Audit of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Recruiting and Retention Activities

Agency Response Dated July 29, 2025: The Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) Human Resources Operations and Policy (HROP) has developed a WTTS Guide which sets out clear and consistent data quality controls. The guide provides detailed instructions for implementing these controls and will be maintained in real time to ensure process efficiencies and opportunities for improvement are identified. To further enhance data quality, OCHCO completed a comprehensive cleanup of the Recruitment Actions in Progress Report to remove outdated records. In June 2025, staff were trained to track active recruitment actions and identify missing or inaccurate data in key WTTS fields.<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG reviewed and verified that the revised WTTS Job Aid meets the intent of the recommendation. This<br />
recommendation is now closed.<br />
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Agency Response Dated January 17, 2025: Job aids are being updated and will include data quality controls. Training sessions are being conducted to equip staff with the necessary skills to perform these data controls effectively. Additional enhancements based on initial trial results will be incorporated as needed to maintain data integrity.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that data quality controls for the WTTS have been developed, implemented through guidance, and staff trained. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

Agency Response Dated July 29, 2025: The OCHCO/HROP staff coordinate with the OCHCO/Human Capital Analysis Branch (HCAB) to implement controls to ensure data integrity in reformatted WTTS reports. OCHCO used the reformatted reports to create a hiring status dashboard that will be used to standardize internal reviews and external reporting of hiring data. The dashboard uses source data from FPPS and WTTS. <br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG met with the HCAB for a demonstration of the new reporting process and the updated reports. The OIG verified that the WTTS reports were updated and clearly capture information for internal and external reporting. This recommendation is now closed.<br />
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Agency Response Dated January 17, 2025: Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO)/Human Capital Analysis Branch (HCAB) has updated the WTTS report formats to ensure they effectively capture the necessary information for internal reviews and external reporting. Refinements are ongoing to enhance clarity and alignment with reporting requirements.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that WTTS report formats have been updated to capture the necessary information. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

Agency Response Dated July 29, 2025: A third-party concluded an evaluation of the NRC’s Hiring Process on March 31, 2025. OCHCO/HROP updated the hiring process guidance following the issuance of the final report. Human Resources (HR) Specialist training was then conducted on June 5, 2025, and June 23, 2025. Starting in 2026, refresher training will occur annually in June. <br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG verified that HR Specialist refresher training was conducted on June 5, 2025, and June 23, 2025, and meets the intent of this recommendation. This recommendation is now closed.<br />
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Agency Response Dated January 17, 2025: OCHCO/Associate Director for Human Resources Operations and Policy (ADHROP) is updating Human Resource (HR) Specialist training modules to comprehensively cover the hiring process. Refresher training will be included and will be conducted every 3-5 years, as appropriate.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that OCHCO staff training has been updated and a plan is in place to conduct the training on a recurring basis. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

Agency Response Dated July 29, 2025: OCHCO received the final third-party evaluation of the Hiring Process on March 31, 2025. The evaluation identified process inefficiencies and outlined recommendations to streamline the steps in the hiring process, including the appropriate assignment of process functions. In June 2025, OCHCO/HROP staff developed procedures and adjusted the functions/tasks between the HR Specialists and the hiring managers to better balance the workload. The new procedures incorporate the recommendations outlined in the evaluation and are in use today.<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG reviewed the report from the third-party evaluation as well as the NRC’s updated hiring process. Together these documents show the adjusted functions that attempt to balance workload. These actions meet the intent of the recommendation. This recommendation is now closed.<br />
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Agency Response Dated January 17, 2025: NRC initiated an evaluation of the Hiring Process in August 2024. The evaluation is being conducted by the internal hiring process assessment team and its contractor, AvantGarde. Updated procedures addressing the OIG recommendation will be developed based on the evaluation’s findings. <br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that procedures have been updated to better balance the workload between the HR specialists and hiring managers. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

Agency Response Dated July 29, 2025: The NRC continues to incorporate expanded authorities granted in the ADVANCE Act and recent direction in the Office of Personnel Management’s May 29, 2025, Merit Hiring Plan to broaden the agency’s recruitment and retention strategy. The agency is positioned to fully use the agency’s excepted service authority when the federal hiring freeze is lifted.<br />
OIG Analysis: The NRC’s planned actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation upon verification that the agency’s excepted service authority has been expanded. This recommendation remains open and resolved.<br />
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Agency Response Dated January 17, 2025: NRC initiated an evaluation of the Hiring Process in<br />
August 2024. The evaluation is being conducted by the internal hiring process assessment team and its contractor, AvantGarde. Updated procedures addressing the OIG recommendation will be developed based on the evaluation’s findings.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the NRC develops plans to expand its excepted service authority. This recommendation remains open and resolved.