Retention of new hires to mid career is not awesome at the NNSA sites. It's a big part of that 'our workforce is all either <5 years or >20 years' issue.

March 22, 2026 - 00:15 UTC

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for something so fantastically expensive, it seems odd that we’re unwilling to spend money to solve a money solvable problem
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The retention problem at most of the sites is not really a money solvable problem IMO. Like, Livermore - you're competing with SF tech wealth. High bar to clear. LANL- the entire housing market on the mesa is LANLers so if you pay more you just drive costs up more. Pantex, who wants to live there?
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A significant part is that (across all of Defense) basically nobody treats new employees well or actually invests in retention.

"Turnover is good for building experience" yeah, in the private sector. You really want lifers when it comes to defense programs.

And most newer employees, aren't.
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