Amid cutbacks, DOE footprint lighter than usual at Waste Management

PHOENIX – After federal layoffs and buyouts and the looming prospect of a possible government shutdown, the Department of Energy presence is lighter than usual at the kickoff of the annual Waste Management Symposia here.

Although no official figures were immediately available, the buzz at a Sunday night reception here was that while DOE and its nuclear cleanup arm typically send around 200 people, this year’s contingent will be closer to 25.

DOE and the International Atomic Energy Agency work closely with Waste Management, which draws international experts in radioactive waste and nuclear issues to Arizona  every March.

Despite White House-backing funding and travel restrictions, the Waste Management event worked with federal executives to “keep the critical attendees” from DOE in place for this week, said Fluor Corp. executive Greg Meyer, a member of the conference board. 

Given all the coverage of President Donald Trump’s efforts to downsize the government, federal contractors at Waste Management did not seem surprised by the scaled-down DOE presence. Like usual, all the big-name contractors across the DOE weapons complex appear to be represented at this year’s event.