GAO tells NRC to finish staffing tool and add performance metrics
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must complete its NEXUS workforce planning tool by the first quarter of FY2027 and adopt metrics to assess the ADVANCE Act hiring authorities.
The Government Accountability Office recommends that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission finalize its NEXUS workforce planning tool by the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 and establish metrics to measure whether the ADVANCE Act authorities are meeting staffing needs.
From July 2024 through June 2026, the NRC's net workforce declined by about 500 positions, most due to voluntary retirements. During the same period the agency awarded $335,000 in performance bonuses to 18 staff, but did not use the Act's direct-hire or compensation-flexibility authorities.
NRC officials said a recent agency reorganization and the need for a comprehensive workforce inventory delayed the NEXUS tool, which has been pushed back multiple times and is now slated for completion in the first quarter of FY2027. Until the tool is finalized, the commission cannot fully apply the new hiring flexibilities.
GAO's two recommendations - finalizing the NEXUS tool and creating measurable performance metrics - remain open. The agency's chair is urged to direct staff to act on both items to address the commission's longstanding hiring and retention challenges.
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