September 25, 2026
The National Nuclear Security Administration Is Correcting an Oversight Lapse in the Department of Energy’s Aviation Management Program
The Department of Energy established its Office of Aviation Management (OAM) in 1999 to centralize Departmental oversight and define roles and responsibilities in the management, oversight, and safety of the Department’s aviation program.
In February 2025, OAM’s last two employees retired, leaving it unstaffed. In September 2025, the National Nuclear Security Administration formally assumed responsibility for Department aviation management.
We initiated this audit to determine the extent to which the Department fulfilled its obligations related to the management of its aviation operations.
We found that the Department did not always fulfill its aviation management responsibilities. Specifically, the Department did not always meet aviation management requirements during a 6-month lapse in oversight of its aviation management program that occurred when the Department did not timely reassign and transition OAM responsibilities. The Department did not effectively transition OAM responsibilities or authorities elsewhere until September 2025. As such, from February 2025 until the official designation of responsibilities to National Nuclear Security Administration officials in September 2025, there was no formally designated Department-level oversight of the aviation management program. During the lapse, several oversight responsibilities were delayed or became overdue. In addition, Department Order 440.2C, Aviation Management and Safety, became outdated, and the Department had not developed Department-level aviation management-related procedures.
To its credit, the National Nuclear Security Administration has taken actions to establish oversight and guidance to manage aviation activities throughout the Department. However, continued efforts are needed to further reduce risk. When multiple elements are left to address matters with external agencies independently and without guidance, the lack of know-how can lead to inconsistent, duplicative, or erroneous efforts.
To address the issues identified in this report, we made one suggestion that, if fully implemented, should help ensure that the Department continues to operate an aviation management program that provides aviation support with the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.