I just received my annual TCP-1 letter from LLNS and a summary of the LLNS Pension Plan. Looked in pretty good shape in 2013. About 35% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 134.92%). This was a decrease from 2012 where it was 51% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 151.59%). They did note that the 2012 change in the law on how liabilities are calculated using interest rates improved the plan's position. Without the change the funding target attainment percentages would have been 118% (2012) and 105% (2013). 2013 assets = $2,057,866,902 2013 liabilities = $1,525,162,784 vs 2012 assets = $1,844,924,947 2012 liabilities = $1,217,043,150 It was also noted that a slightly different calculation method ("fair market value") designed to show a clearer picture of the plan' status as December 31, 2013 had; Assets = $2,403,098,433 Liabilities = $2,068,984,256 Funding ratio = 116.15% Its a closed plan with 3,781 participants. Of that number, 3,151 wer...
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Everyone at NNSA labs knows there are problems and have been since 2004.
Well, trump told us but some of us voted for him anyway!
Well, trump told us but some of us voted for him anyway!"
I get it but they hired way too many people and much lower quality people over the past 10 years.
3/17/2025 9:44 AM"
Drop in the number of publications over the last 10 years even though the number of people who could publish is going up, they have a report on this. Drop in the quality of universities where people get the degrees from. We use to get 20% from the top 10 universities now it is 2%. Drop in the quality of positions postdocs are getting their next positions. We have more postdocs than ever but far fewer are getting jobs at universities or top industry. Also the more people turn down the named LANL postdoc fellows. These are some of the highest postdoc position in the world and LANL gives 2-4 a year but most external people are now turning these down and they have to be given to postdocs already at the lab. People get excited when they first get these but then look into LANL and turn it down. We are getting more and more of this.
Drop in the number of external awards and prizes that LANL staff receive. This was noticed in several recent capability reviews. LANL would typical get 5-10 APS fellows every years. Now it is 2-1.
The other is increase in the number failed drug tests, and the large turnover rate as the quality if now so bad.
There is the personal experience that LANL people agree it is just much harder get good people to go to LANL now for any kind of positions. There are all sorts of indicators of the decline of the workforce.
There are many reasons for this.
There is also the problem of pay. Sure LANL pays well compared to some lower level academic institutions but is not competitive with what top universities will pay for and well below what industry will pay for. The lab wants to go into "AI" work but how on earth would you ever attract a top person in AI to go to LANL?
I happen to know what the salaries are for scientists at Google , Microsoft, and several quantum computing companies. LANL simply cannot even come close to matching these salaries.