As we reflect on the past and look to the future, Hanford Challenge is filled with profound gratitude for the dedicated workers who have brought us to this pivotal point in the Hanford cleanup mission. Despite the significant challenges that remain, the treatment of Hanford’s tank waste and its solidification in glass finally seem within reach. The momentum is palpable, but so are the very real threats to this progress.

At this juncture, it would be a grave mistake to take shortcuts or reduce funding. We must ensure that cleanup is conducted safely, effectively and completely, so that future generations can continue to call this beautiful area home. Anything less would be a failure.

Recent milestones highlight the dedication of the Hanford workforce. The Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Facility is nearly ready to vitrify tank waste, and a historic $3 billion budget for 2024 sets the stage for necessary funding increases. This funding boost, driven by local and national advocacy, must continue to ensure meaningful progress.

Holistic Agreement

In April 2024, the Tri-Party Agreement agencies reached the Holistic Agreement for Hanford tank waste cleanup.

After public comments, the agreement was finalized in January 2025. Much to our appreciation, the agencies listened to Hanford Challenge’s call to delay decisions on grouting 15 million gallons of tank waste until the end of 2025, after – instead of before – the April 2025 grout test data is available.

The agencies also committed to new tank waste storage, but with a slower schedule than hoped. Instead of delaying cleanup now, the agreement sets a schedule to delay cleanup in the future. One set of delays in five years and another in around 14 years, when the high-level waste facility is hopefully operational.

2,000-gallon Test Bed initiative

Hanford Challenge has significant concerns about the upcoming test bed initiative, scheduled for spring 2025, which involves a 2,000-gallon tank waste grout test.

Our main issues with grouting Hanford tank waste include: the lack of comprehensive risk assessments and safety evaluations for transporting and disposing of the treated waste offsite; overstated promises of cost and schedule savings; and technical challenges with grout, which was abandoned in the past due to issues with grout formulas and grout-to-waste ratios that significantly increase the total amount of waste needing transportation for disposal.

We believe that the focus for Hanford waste treatment should be on vitrification. Additionally, we have major concerns that a curated test of 2,000 gallons of waste will not provide sufficient information to make informed decisions about grouting 15 million gallons of tank waste in the future.

WESF cleanup

We are eagerly anticipating the cleanup of the Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility (WESF) and have concerns about how cuts to cleanup staffing may impact this work.

The WESF project to remove 1,936 cesium and strontium capsules from underwater pools to dry storage reduces the catastrophic risk this facility poses to the Pacific Northwest. Workers are getting ready to start moving the capsules to dry storage in 2025. This work must continue to prevent a devastating release of radioactivity if the pool were to drain before the transfers are finished. Completion of this milestone will reduce storage costs by about $6 million per year.

Hanford layoffs

Despite recent progress, a significant issue must be addressed in 2025: the recent federal layoffs and deferred resignations that have already impacted the Hanford workforce.

In February 2025, federal Hanford employees were laid off, including safety engineers and environmental scientists. These layoffs have raised concerns about the potential slowdown in critical cleanup activities, such as the WESF cleanup and the safety of the remaining workers. We are worried about the long-term unintended consequences of such layoffs on the progress of Hanford cleanup.

It is unlikely that the workforce reduction at Hanford will stop at 50. It’s highly probable that further reductions will impact more federal employees and eventually private contractor staff. These reductions will also jeopardize projects like the “cleanup to clean energy” initiatives designed to transition Hanford’s workforce and preserve jobs.

One of our concerns is the impact that fear of layoffs has on the safety culture at Hanford. Anytime there is a big transition and workers are worried about their jobs, it can make workers feel worried about speaking out about issues and becoming a target for layoffs. We want workers to feel empowered and secure in their important work protecting the future with a safe and effective cleanup.

The layoffs at Hanford in early February also sparked legitimate concerns within the Hanford community. These cuts aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent real people and families facing uncertainty.

Elon Musk recently emphasized the importance of care and competence in such decisions. However, the recent layoffs reflect more chaos and callousness than thoughtful governance. It’s doubtful that the current administration or Mr. Musk fully understand the critical cleanup mission at Hanford or the pivotal moment we are at in this decades-long effort.

Laying off workers only to realize their necessity and attempting to rehire them is far from competent management. Moreover, these layoffs show a lack of care for the success of the cleanup mission. The indiscriminate layoffs included safety engineers, environmental scientists and emergency responders who ensure the safety and progress of this vital cleanup.

Is there fraud at Hanford? Absolutely. Are there inefficiencies at Hanford? Without a doubt. But a true search for fraud and inefficiencies requires time and careful consideration, best started by focusing on Hanford contractors who have settled multimillion-dollar fraud cases, not by firing probationary employees.

The Hanford site continues to face numerous challenges and opportunities as it progresses through 2025. As the chainsaw revs up in Washington, D.C., it is vital for all stakeholders to support the momentum that the Hanford cleanup has achieved and uphold the legally binding agreements for ensuring a safer and cleaner future for everyone.

Nikolas Peterson is the executive director of Hanford Challenge.