Dan Leone is indefatigable in deciphering the DOE/NNSA* budget and congressional hearings on it. He does not disappoint.

DOE's budget in brief is out.https://t.co/uPRD5Uhqtm

NNSA has requested a LARGE year-over-year increase for Production Modernization (new infrastructure for e.g. plutonium pits) & a big cut to Infrastructure and Operations (e.g. building upkeep).

— Dan Leone (@Leone_EXM) March 29, 2022

He speculates that the cost of repurposing the MOX facility in South Carolina into a pit factory is so enormous that it is impacting the budget for maintenance. Having been the chair of the Buildings and Grounds committee for the Board of Trustees of a small college, I can say that this is a politically easy decision. It’s easy to ignore maintenance until roofs start leaking. DOE goes through these cycles every few years.

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