ML25343A339
| ML25343A339 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/18/2025 |
| From: | John Tappert Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research |
| To: | Lewandowski M Health Physics Society |
| References | |
| LTR-25-0327-2-RES | |
| Download: ML25343A339 (0) | |
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Michael Lewandowski, CHP, FHPS President Health Physics Society 950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450 Herndon, Virginia 20170 Via email: president@hps.org
Dear Mr. Lewandowski,
Thank you for your letter dated October 9, 2025, expressing the Health Physics Societys concern regarding the suspension of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP) Scholarship and Fellowship, Distinguished Faculty Advancement, Trade School, and Community College programs. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hereby provides additional context regarding the agencys determination.
The NRCs determination was responsive to multiple executive order directions. Specifically, on February 26, 2025, the President signed Executive Order (EO) 14222, Implementing the Presidents Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative, which directed transformation in Federal spending on grants and contracts. The NRC reviewed EO 14302, Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base, and determined that it did not require the agency to alter its current pause on all UNLP grant awards. Three months after the issuance of EO 14302, on August 7, 2025, the President issued EO 14332, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, directing the NRCs Senior Agency Appointee to establish a new process for reviewing all discretionary grants prior to issuance, including any new Funding Opportunity Announcements, to ensure alignment with agency priorities and the national interest. This new review process is still under development. Unfortunately, significant time was lost during the government shutdown, which delayed progress on implementing these requirements. In summary, the NRC does not have authority to issue any further grant awards at this time.
Until the grant review process mandated by EO 14332 is fully developed, finalized, and approved by the Senior Agency Appointee, the NRCs discretionary grant programs remain paused.
We recognize the challenges this situation creates and value the Health Physics Societys continued engagement as the agency works toward restoring its grantmaking capabilities within the bounds of current federal directives.
December 18, 2025
M. Lewandowski Thank you for your continued support of, and participation in, the University Nuclear Leadership Program.
Sincerely, John R. Tappert, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Research Signed by Tappert, John on 12/18/25
Package ML25342A439 OFFICE RES/PMDA RES/PMDA/D OGC/LRAA/LECL NAME AChan MBrezovec TBarczy DATE 12/09/25 12/09/25 12/10/25 OFFICE ADM/AMD/D (A)
OEDO/EDO RES/OD NAME NStevenson MKing JTappert DATE 12/10/25 12/18/25 12/18/25 JT SA NS TB AC MB Nuclear Regulatory Commission Response to the Health Physics Society President Regarding Suspension DATE of the FY24 University Nuclear Leadership Program Awards December 18, 2025 LTR-25-0327-2-RES OFFICE RES/PMDA RES/DSA OGC/GCHA/GCA
/NLO ADM/AMD/APPSD NAME MBrezovec AChan TBarczy NStevenson DATE Dec 10, 2025 Dec 10, 2025 Dec 10, 2025 Dec 10, 2025 OFFICE OIP RES/DRA NAME SAtack JTappert DATE Dec 18, 2025 Dec 18, 2025 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 4