For decades, the Hanford Site in central Washington produced plutonium for the United States’ nuclear arsenal. But since its operations were shuttered, starting in the 1960s, the site has become an ongoing headache for regulators in charge of cleaning up its radioactive waste. 

Today, there are 177 underground storage tanks housing 56 million gallons of the country’s most toxic radioactive waste at Hanford. It’s expected to cost billions of dollars over the next several decades to completely dispose of it. 

However, Project 2025 – a political initiative authored by a think tank called the Heritage Foundation – could change the current plan for Hanford, and its waste. 

Project 2025 is a political initiative considered to be a policy blueprint for the Trump administration, though President Trump ended up distancing himself from some of its policies during the height of its attention during his campaign last year.

Since being elected, however, he’s also brought on some of the project’s architects for cabinet nominees. That includes Russell Vought, who authored a chapter of Project 2025 and is going through confirmation hearings to lead the Office of Management and Budget. While not yet confirmed, Vote’s been credited as the architect of the federal funding freeze that sent many federal agencies into chaos this week.

Soundside was joined by reporters Anna King and Jeanie Lindsay to discuss the project's strategy for dealing with Hanford's waste, and if Project 2025 has any bearing on President Trump's second term in office. 

Guests:
Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting based in Richland.
Jeanie Lindsay, KUOW's state government reporter based in Olympia.

Related Links: 
KUOW - Project 2025 and Hanford: What Trump’s second term could mean for WA’s toxic sludge
Washington state, federal agencies finalize agreement for tank waste cleanup at Hanford - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

For decades, the Hanford Site in central Washington produced plutonium for the United States&rsquo; nuclear arsenal. But since its operations were shuttered, starting in the 1960s, the site has become an ongoing headache for regulators in charge of cleaning up its radioactive waste.&nbsp;
Today, there are <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/nuclear-waste/hanford-cleanup/hanford-overview#:~:text=Today%2C%20there%20are%20177%20underground,of%20decades%20of%20plutonium%20production.">177 underground storage tanks housing 56 million gallons</a> of the country&rsquo;s most toxic radioactive waste at Hanford. It&rsquo;s expected to cost billions of dollars over the next several decades to completely dispose of it.&nbsp;
However, Project 2025 &ndash; a political initiative authored by a think tank called the Heritage Foundation &ndash; could change the current plan for Hanford, and its waste.&nbsp;
Project 2025 is a political initiative considered to be a policy blueprint for the Trump administration, though&nbsp;President Trump ended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-project-2025-biden-9d372469033d23e1e3aef5cf0470a2e6">up distancing himself </a>from some of its policies during the height of its attention during his campaign last year.
Since being elected, however, he&rsquo;s also brought on some of the project&rsquo;s architects for cabinet nominees. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-russell-vought-trump-federal-government-38fc446832062e40fc2ccad6f3348dfd">Russell Vought,</a> who authored a chapter of Project 2025 and is going through confirmation hearings to lead the Office of Management and Budget. While not yet confirmed, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/29/trump-federal-spending-freeze-project-2025-007378">Vote&rsquo;s been credited as the architect of the federal funding freeze</a> that sent many federal agencies into chaos this week.
Soundside was joined by reporters Anna King and Jeanie Lindsay to discuss the project's strategy for dealing with Hanford's waste, and if Project 2025 has any bearing on President Trump's second term in office.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting based in Richland.</li>
<li>Jeanie Lindsay, KUOW's state government reporter based in Olympia.</li>
</ul>
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/project-2025-and-hanford-what-trump-s-second-term-could-mean-for-wa-s-toxic-sludge">KUOW - Project 2025 and Hanford: What Trump&rsquo;s second term could mean for WA&rsquo;s toxic sludge</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nwpb.org/2025/01/15/washington-state-federal-agencies-finalize-agreement-for-tank-waste-cleanup-at-hanford/">Washington state, federal agencies finalize agreement for tank waste cleanup at Hanford - Northwest Public Broadcasting</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Project 2025 wants to finish cleanup at Hanford decades faster than currently expected. Soundside was joined by reporters Anna King and Jeanie Lindsay to discuss the project's strategy for dealing with Hanford's waste, and how the state is reacting to the blueprint.

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