Editing Fermilab (section)

==Delays, cost overruns, safety failures, and management turmoil in the 2010s and 2020s==
Starting in the 2010s, delays and cost over-runs led to substantial concerns about mismanagement of the laboratory.

===Oversight issues that developed between 2014 and 2024===
In 2014, the [[Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel]] ("P5") recommended<ref name="report">{{Citation | title = Report of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel | date = May 2014 | url = https://science.energy.gov/~/media/hep/hepap/pdf/May-2014/FINAL_P5_Report_053014.pdf }}</ref> three major initiatives for construction on the Fermilab site.  Two were particle physics experiments: the [[Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment]] and [[Mu2e]]. The third was the PIPII accelerator upgrade described above.   P5  also recommended Fermilab participation in LHC at [[CERN]].

As of 2022, two P5-recommended Fermilab projects had suffered substantial delays:
* The [[Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment]] with the enabling Long Baseline Neutrino Facility was proposed to P5 as a $1B project; the cost estimate in 2021 dollars was more than $3B, with far detector operations beginning 2029 and full operation by 2032.<ref>{{cite web |title=LBNF/DUNE Status | url=https://science.osti.gov/-/media/hep/hepap/pdf/202111/LBNF-DUNE_Status_HEPAP_202111.pdf}}</ref>
* The [[Mu2e]] experiment was to produce preliminary results in 2020,<ref name=fermilab-mu2e>{{cite web|title=Mu2e: muon-to-electron-conversion experiment|url=http://mu2e.fnal.gov/|publisher=Fermilab|accessdate=April 30, 2015|date=April 21, 2015}}</ref> but this is now delayed until 2026.<ref name=ferminews-mu2e-2022>{{cite news|last1=Bernstein|first1=Maxwell|title=Straws, crystals and the quest for new subatomic physics|url=https://news.fnal.gov/2022/03/straws-crystals-and-the-quest-for-new-subatomic-physics/ |work=Fermilab News|date=March 24, 2022}}</ref>

Even smaller experiments, below the cost-level of individual P5 approval, that were proposed at the time of the 2014 P5 suffered considerable delay.  The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) that was proposed in 2014 <ref name=sbndarticle>{{cite web |title=Neutrino Detector On the Move|last1=Ayshford |first1=Emily |url=https://news.fnal.gov/2022/12/neutrino-detector-on-the-move/ |website=Fermilab News |date=December 2022 |publisher=Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> with a $10M cost scale was originally scheduled for data taking in spring 2018,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Peter |title=SBN Program Coordinator |url=https://indico.fnal.gov/event/11088/ |website=Director's Progress Review of the SBN Program, December 15, 2015 |date=December 15, 2015 |publisher=Fermilab |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> but is now scheduled to begin in autumn 2023.<ref name=sbndarticle />

The Department of Energy raised flags as early as Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. Each year, the US Department of Energy Office of Science reviews and grades the national laboratories in its portfolio on eight performance metrics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Laboratory Appraisal Process |url=https://science.osti.gov/lp/Laboratory-Appraisal-Process |website=U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science |date=December 13, 2022 |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref>  Fermilab has received the lowest grades among the national laboratories in FY2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.  A rare C grade was assigned for project management in 2021, reflective of the delays and cost overruns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory FY 2021 Report Card |url=https://science.osti.gov/lp/Laboratory-Appraisal-Process/FY-2021/FermiLab |website=Laboratory Appraisal Process |date=December 20, 2021 |publisher=Office of Science, Department of Energy |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref>   In an article in the journal ''Science'', James Decker, who was principal deputy director of DOE's Office of Science from 1973 to 2007, stated that the performance evaluation for 2021 was "one of the most scathing I have seen".<ref name=chomarch23 />

In 2020, the high-energy physics community expressed concern that the cost of major projects at Fermilab have led to diversion of funds from the high-energy physics core research program, harming the health of the field.<ref name=COV2020>{{cite web |title=2020 HEPAP COV Report on HEP Program|url=https://science.osti.gov/-/media/sc-2/pdf/cov-hep/2021/HEP_COV_2020_Report.pdf|publisher=Department of Energy Office of Science}}</ref><ref name=aipdec20>{{cite news |author=Will Thomas  |title=Particle Physicists Feel Squeeze From Major Projects |url=https://www.aip.org/fyi/2020/particle-physicists-feel-squeeze-major-projects?_ga=2.191517418.1751103614.1649778405-12991540.1646562579|publisher=FYI, American Institute of Physics |date=December 16, 2020 }}</ref> Congress increased the annual HEP budget from less than $800 million by about $250M to more than $1 billion—a 30% increase that went mainly to support large projects at Fermilab.<ref name=phystoday21>{{cite journal |author=William Thomas  |title=US high-energy physics faces compounding budget tensions |url=https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.2.20211119a/full |journal=Physics Today |date=November 21, 2021 |volume=2021 |issue=2 |pages=1119a |doi=10.1063/PT.6.2.20211119a |bibcode=2021PhT..2021b1119. |s2cid=244441879 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The Fermilab project delays led to substantial change in leadership in 2022.<ref name=aaasmar22 /> In September 2021, [[Nigel Lockyer]], Director of Fermilab, resigned.<ref name=ferminewsSept21>{{cite news  |title=Nigel Lockyer to step down as Fermilab director|url=https://news.fnal.gov/2021/09/nigel-lockyer-to-step-down-as-fermilab-director|publisher=Fermilab News |date=September 10, 2021}}</ref> Lockyer was replaced by [[Lia Merminga]], head of the PIP II project.<ref name=ferminewsApr5-22>{{cite news  |title=Lia Merminga appointed director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory|url=https://news.fnal.gov/2022/04/lia-merminga-appointed-director-of-fermilab/|publisher=Fermilab News |date=April 5, 2022}}</ref>  On March 31, 2022, James Siegrist, associate director for High Energy Physics in the Department of Energy Office of Science, who had overseen the response to the P5 report, stepped down.<ref name=aipfeb7>{{cite news |author=Will Thomas  |title=DOE High Energy Physics Program Head to Retire |url=https://www.aip.org/fyi/fyi-this-week/week-february-7-2022|publisher=FYI, American Institute of Physics |date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> 
In September 2022, it was announced that deputy director for Research Joseph Lykken would step down, to be replaced by Yale Professor Bonnie Fleming, who previously served as Deputy Chief Research Officer for the neutrino program at Fermilab.<ref>{{cite news |title=Groundbreaking particle physicist named Fermilab chief research officer and deputy director, UChicago professor |url=https://physicalsciences.uchicago.edu/news/article/groundbreaking-particle-physicist-named-uchicago-professor/ |access-date=September 19, 2023 |agency=Physical Sciences |publisher=University of Chicago |date=September 7, 2022}}</ref>
Regina (Gina) Rameika joined the DOE's Office of Science as the associate director for the Office of High Energy Physics in his place on November 7, 2022, moving from her role as spokesperson of the DUNE Experiment.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berhe |first1=Asmeret Asefaw |title=SC's New Associate Director for High Energy Physics |url=https://www.energy.gov/science/articles/scs-new-associate-director-high-energy-physics |website=Office of Science |publisher=Department of Energy |access-date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> 

Although these replacements represent a substantial turn-over of the top ranks, the new management was drawn from the 2014-2022 management team and Fermilab has continued to suffer turmoil since this change-over. In particular,
new issues arose with regard to safety and access of employees, visitors and contractors.

On May 25, 2023, a contractor fell 23 ft while attempting to secure reinforcing bars on a wall for the new PIP II project site.<ref name=trib23>{{cite news |last1=Channick |first1=Robert |title=Fermilab's $1 billion accelerator project remains on hold during investigation into May accident that injured a construction worker |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-fermilab-proton-construction-accident-investigation-20230914-yj5c6gnhfnejtaixtm4qsktla4-story.html |access-date=September 19, 2023 |agency=Chicago Tribune |publisher=Tribune Publishing |date=September 14, 2023}}</ref>  The contractor was air-lifted to hospital in an accident considered the worst on site in decades.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Megan |title=Injured worker flown to trauma center after fall at Fermilab construction site |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-fermilab-injury-st-0526-20230525-fhcqfqi4b5arzcknvy57y4iu2u-story.html |access-date=May 28, 2023 |agency=Aurora Beacon News |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=May 25, 2023}}</ref> A DOE-appointed Accident Investigation Board concluded that the incident was preventable and "recommended a long list of managerial and safety controls needed to prevent a recurrence of such an accident."<ref name=trib23 />   As a result of the accident, the $1B PIP II project that is crucial for the success of the DUNE Experiment was delayed.<ref name=trib23 /> 

On September 1, 2023, Chief Research Officer Bonnie Fleming announced that the Fermilab accelerator system was temporarily shut down for safety reasons.<ref>{{Citation |title=DOE O 420.2D Implementation Assist Visit |date=September 26, 2023 |url=https://indico.fnal.gov/event/61410/ |access-date=October 22, 2023 |contribution=9:30 Current Program Overview|publisher=Environment, Safety and Health Dept., Fermilab}}</ref> On September 9, 2022, DOE issued order DOE O 420.2D entitled "Safety of Accelerators".  This document establishes the accelerator-specific safety requirements for DOE-funded accelerators and their operations. While other national labs continued operations while working to bring their safety requirements into compliance, Fermilab chose to suspend operations until the lab was fully compliant with the new order. The Fermilab Main Accelerator resumed running after the DOE O 420.2D implementation was complete, in late spring, 2024.

In mid-2024, Fermilab faced a budget shortfall.  This resulted in an initial furlough of employees and closure of its operations and public access for one week in August.<ref name="strife24">{{cite news |last1=Cho |first1=Adrian |title=Trouble and strife deepen at famed U.S. particle physics lab |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/trouble-and-strife-deepen-famed-u-s-particle-physics-lab |access-date=29 August 2024 |agency=American Association for the Advancement of Science |volume=385 |issue=6710 |publisher=Science |date=14 August 2024}}</ref>  The need for a furlough was surprising since the budget grew "a hefty 7.6% to $739 million" <ref name="strife24" /> in fiscal year (FY) 2024. According to the journal ''Science'', the crisis stemmed from poorly managed growth: "from 2022 to 2023 alone, [laboratory staff] grew by 176 members, or 9%, to 2160."<ref name=strife24 />  The furlough did not fully address the budget deficit, and in November, 2.5% of the workforce was laid off.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rutecki |first1=Jared |title=Fermilab Announces Layoffs of 53 Employees Amid Budgetary Pressure |url=https://news.wttw.com/2024/11/14/fermilab-announces-layoffs-53-employees-amid-budgetary-pressure |access-date=19 November 2024 |publisher=WTTW News |date=14 November 2024}}</ref>  Despite this, Tracy Marc, head of Fermilab's media services, told WTTW News that "the overall financial health of the laboratory remains intact and is being managed".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rutecki |first1=Jared |title=Fermilab to Close Temporarily in August Due to Budget Issues |url=https://news.wttw.com/2024/07/19/fermilab-close-temporarily-august-due-budget-issues |access-date=July 28, 2024 |publisher=WTTW News |date=July 19, 2024}}</ref>

===2024 Whistleblower Report===
On July 15, 2024, a report containing allegations of cover-ups at the laboratory was uploaded to the [[arXiv]] physics preprint server. <ref name=whistleblow />  The allegations, which were also reported in the press,<ref name=strife24 /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rutecki |first1=Jared |title=Fermilab Whistleblower Report Alleges Sexual Harassment, Loaded Gun and 'Chaotic' Finances |url=https://news.wttw.com/2024/08/16/fermilab-whistleblower-report-alleges-sexual-harassment-loaded-gun-and-chaotic-finances |access-date=August 20, 2024 |publisher=WTTW News |date=August 16, 2024}}</ref><ref name=PWwhistle>{{cite news |last1=Gwynne |first1=Peter |title=Fermilab is 'doomed' without management overhaul claims whistleblower report |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/fermilab-is-doomed-without-management-overhaul-claims-whistleblower-report/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |agency=IOP Publishing |publisher=Physics World |date=August 15, 2024}}</ref> included:
* "The alleged sexual assault of the NOvA and DUNE collaborator who filed and won her 2022 lawsuit in the UK [after it] was dismissed by FNAL staff."
* "A cover-up of a case of guns on site in 2023, with promotion of the perpetrator and pretextuous firing of the witness."
* "A cover-up of an attempt at badly hurting with an industrial vehicle a female electrician by a ... male employee."
* "A cover-up of Beryllium windows blasting, with subsequent promotion of the person in charge."
* "A hostile work environment, where constructive criticism is most often ignored and retaliated against."
The report also recounted a litany of complaints concerning day-to-day running of the laboratory that have been reported in this article, above, as well as a new claim of "PIP-II contingency overruns within one year from CD3 approval" that could potentially impact the LBNF/DUNE program.

For credibility, the report provided detailed eye-witness accounts to support the allegations. <ref name=whistleblow />  Beyond that, some information was previously publicly reported.  For example, the first allegation concerning an egregious case of sexual harassment was reported in ''The Guardian''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abdul |first1=Geneva |title=Former UCL academic to pay damages after harassing colleague for months |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/oct/12/former-ucl-academic-to-pay-damages-after-harassing-colleague-for-months |access-date=July 28, 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=October 12, 2022}}</ref> and the fact that the claimant had submitted a complaint to Fermilab which took no action appeared in court documents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Smith v Backhouse |url=http://www.5rb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Erica-Smith-v-Christopher-Backhouse-SIOC.pdf |website=www.5rb.com |publisher=5RB Media and Communications Law |access-date=July 28, 2024}}</ref>
Scientists expressed fear of retribution by Fermilab leadership.<ref name=strife24 />    In order for the whistleblowers to remain anonymous, the report was uploaded to the arXiv preprint server by Giorgio Bellettini, a respected leader in the field of particle physics who served as spokesman of the collaboration for the [[Collider Detector at Fermilab]] twice.<ref name=bellettini>{{cite web |last1=Bellettini |first1=Giorgio |title=Giorgio Bellettini |url=https://history.fnal.gov/historical/people/bellettini_landing.html |website=Fermilab Historical Information |publisher=Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |access-date=July 28, 2024}}</ref>  A second signed letter of support from William Barletta of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was also included.

The report was delivered to the deputy director for Operations of the DOE Office of Science Dr. Juston Fontaine and the DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation Geraldine Richmond in June 2024. <ref name=whistleblow />  It was released to the public one month later, after DOE officials did not respond. <ref name=whistleblow /> On July 29, 2024, Fermilab Director Lia Merminga issued a terse response to concerned scientists, saying:  "The [whistleblower] document asserts various challenges at Fermilab, some of which are inaccurate, and others of which [the Fermi Research Alliance] has been working hard to address for some time."<ref name=PWwhistle /> At an All Hands Meeting, Merminga allegedly also told scientific staff to "stop whining.”<ref name="strife24" />

===New Management in 2025 by the Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC===
In view of the many issues facing the laboratory, in January 2023, the DOE announced a two-year process to rebid the contract for the management of the laboratory<ref>{{cite web |title=Department of Energy Issues Request for Information and Launches New Website for the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Management and Operating Contract Competition |url=https://www.energy.gov/science/articles/department-energy-issues-request-information-and-launches-new-website-fermi |website=Department of Energy Office of Science |access-date=March 23, 2023}}</ref>  due to the performance issues.<ref name=chomarch23 />   The DOE announcement of the competition explained:  "the purpose of this contract competition is to solicit and award a new M&O contract that will result in improved contractor performance and efficiencies at FNAL. DOE expects that this competition will elicit new and innovative approaches for planning the Laboratory's future."<ref>{{cite web |title=M&O Contract Competitions |url=https://science.osti.gov/Acquisition-Management/M-and-O-Competitions |website=Office of Acquisition Management |date=December 6, 2022 |publisher=Department of Energy Office of Science |access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref>  At an informational meeting for potential bidders on March 1, 2023, the presentation slides expanded upon issues under "Major Challenges/Risks" including highlighting the concern:  "The Laboratory continues to have challenges in Financial Management and Acquisition Management. Audits repeatedly highlight the same deficiencies and control failures year after year. Any corrective actions implemented have resulted in little to no progress. Significant procurement issues have hindered the laboratory's ability to successfully deliver efficient and effective business systems/resources to enable the Science Mission. Substantial concerns remain regarding the ability to expend Government funds in an effective, efficient, and compliant manner."<ref name=rebid>{{cite web |title=Informational Meeting |url=https://science.osti.gov/Acquisition-Management/M-and-O-Competitions/Procurement-Information/Informational-Meeting |website=Office of Acquisitions Management |date=March 7, 2023 |publisher=Department of Energy Office of Science |access-date=March 25, 2023 |ref=Presentation Slides, p.53}}</ref>
The myriad issues facing a new contractor were listed in January 2024 in the news section of the journal ''Nature''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garisto |first1=Daniel |title=Leading US particle-physics lab faces uncertain future |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00150-4 |access-date=July 28, 2024 |publisher=Nature |date=January 24, 2024}}</ref>

On October 1, 2024, the Department of Energy awarded the contract to operate Fermi National Accelerator to the newly-formed Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC (FFDG).<ref>{{cite web |title=Energy Department Awards New Contract to Manage and Operate Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |url=https://www.energy.gov/science/articles/energy-department-awards-new-contract-manage-and-operate-fermi-national |website=Office of Science |publisher=Department of Energy |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref>   The FFDG represents an incremental change in management from the previous decade because the group includes the past management team for the laboratory, the FRA,<ref>{{cite web |title=Fermilab Research Alliance, LLC |url=https://fra-hq.org/ |website=Fermilab Research Alliance, LLC}}</ref> that consisted of the University of Chicago and the Universities Research Association (URA).  There are  two additions:  Amentum Environment & Energy, Inc., which specializes in advanced engineering, and Longenecker & Associates, which specializes in project management. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Cho |first1=Adrian |title=Fermilab's not-quite-new boss aims to end turmoil, boost performance |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/fermilab-s-not-quite-new-boss-aims-end-turmoil-boost-performance |access-date=19 November 2024 |agency=AAAS |issue=6718 |publisher=Science |date=4 October 2024}}</ref>   Thus, the selection left the scientific and human resources management unchanged, but did  strengthen expertise to deliver large projects. 

The FFDG assumed management of Fermilab operations on January 1, 2025, with a five-year contract.
On January 13, 2025, 
Director Lia Merminga resigned.<ref name=WTTWMerminaresigns /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gwynne |first1=Peter |title=Fermilab seeks new boss after Lia Merminga resigns as director |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/fermilab-seeks-new-boss-after-lia-merminga-resigns-as-director/ |access-date=14 January 2025 |agency=Physics World |publisher=IOP Publishing |date=14 January 2025}}</ref>  No reason was provided, however reporters from the American Institute of Physics (AIP) hypothesized<ref name=AIPmerm25>{{cite news |title=FYI Newsletter: WEEK OF JAN 20, 2025 : Fermilab director resigns |url=https://ww2.aip.org/fyi/week-of-jan-21-2025 |access-date=11 February 2025 |agency=AIP FYI |publisher=American Institute of Physics |date=20 January 2025}}</ref> the final straw was the failing 2024 "report card" from the Department of Energy<ref name=reportcard24>{{cite web |title=Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory FY 2024 Report Card |url=https://sc-drcds.osti.gov/lp/Laboratory-Appraisal-Process/FY-2024/FNAL |website=FY 2024 Report Cards: FNAL |publisher=Department of Energy |access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> publicly released just as the FFDG assumed management.  The AIP reported:  "[In 2024,] the Department of Energy gave the lab its lowest marks since the current lab appraisal process began in 2006. The lab failed to meet expectations in five out of eight categories, including two C+ grades in program management and contractor leadership and a C in business systems.  (The DOE Office of Science defines a B+ grade and above as meeting expectations.)"<ref name=AIPmerm25 /> 

Young-Kee Kim, Albert A. Michelson Distinguished Service Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago, is serving as Acting Director during the search for a replacement .<ref name=WTTWMerminaresigns />  Kim previously served as Deputy Director of Fermilab from 2006-2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Young-Kee Kim |url=https://history.fnal.gov/historical/people/kim_landing.html |website=HISTORICAL INFORMATION » PEOPLE |publisher=Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |access-date=16 January 2025}}</ref>