How Chris Wright went wrong with the White House

Missteps in cutting clean energy spending and friction between staffers has led to questions about whether the former fracking company CEO will remain in the Cabinet.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/17/chris-wright-white-house-00612920

Nuclear agency’s top IT official says AI gains will lead to workforce cuts

 https://fedscoop.com/nnsa-ai-job-cuts-labor-impact/

Nuclear agency’s top IT official says AI gains will lead to workforce cuts
During an event Thursday, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s CIO said he wants to spend money as efficiently as possible.

Huh? How will that work, so far the NNSA labs are just getting bigger and bigger with more overheard non-technical staff, less productivity, and less efficiency,...way less efficiency. The bureaucracy is fighting back and appears to be winning. Has AI done anything?

Secrets held by LLNL appointees?

Some time ago, division leader Karl, appointed his successor division leader Joe. Appointed, meaning no interviews or challengers to this position were permitted. Within division leader Joes watch, one of his married tech supervisors was allegedly accused of having a romantic affair with a female NM tech that he “recruited”. A clear LLNL and Q clearance violation. Appointed division leader Joes response…was no response to this UC/LLNL misconduct. Got to wonder if the New York Times is looking into this carefully held secret like the Cesar Chavez news?

Energy prices

 With gas prices going up, and likely to stay up for some time there is now talk of rationing or work from home, like 3-4 day work weeks, or other people just staying home. This could have a big impact at LANL where there is such a large amount of the workforce especially the new PIT workers that commute over two hours are more every day. That has got hit the pocket book and the working from home is not an option.

Cesar Chavez Celebration Day

 Will there be a Cesar Chavez Celebration Day at LLNL this month?

In past years, LLNL celebrated the life and work of Cesar Chavez for diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

Just days ago, Cesar Chavez, former president and co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW), was allegedly accused of sexual abuse against young women and minors. Specific allegations have not been released, but scheduled Cesar Chavez celebrations across the Country, have been cancelled. These accusations are horrible if true, and if true, why did it take over 30 years to surface?

The near-future of HR

 90% of HR Staff Gone by 2030

According to Stuart Varney’s guest on Fox Business, 90% of Human Resources (HR) and HR related jobs, could be eliminated by 2030 due to AI.

Has LLNS been reducing its HR staff through attrition, so high HR layoff numbers will be less likely by 2030?

Time to release the reserves

 https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/iea-proposes-largest-ever-oil-release-strategic-reserves-wsj-reports-2026-03-11/

IEA proposes record release of strategic stocks in response to Iran war oil price surge

LANL may need to double plutonium pit production

LANL may be asked to double plutonium pit production, per federal memo.

Up to 60 pits per year.

The comment section in the news article devolves in the usual fight between the two anti-nuke groups "The Los Alamos Study Group" vs The nuclear watch group. These groups are like two age old enemies forever locked in the battle to the death. You almost get the feeling that Los Alamos is really just playing a minor role in what really motivates these guys which is their hatred for each other.

If there is ever WW3 and the earth every last nuke is used and the only two people left alive are Greg Mello and Jay Coughlan, they would still be fighting. It will be like "Let this be your last battlefield from the old Start Trek show" in which each is half black and half white (though on opposite sides from each other), and committed to destroying the other.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/lanl-may-be-asked-to-double-plutonium-pit-production-per-federal-memo/article_3266b341-fb84-4877-8e67-10e8e60145e3.html#comments

Questionable qualifications

 Anonymous said ....

How in the hell, did HEAF in the early 90s, go from a PhD level Facility Manager leadership requirement, devolve into a Faculty Manager that early in his LLNL career, just qualify him for a security guard position? Is this a follow the Bechtel money situation?