On May 26, 2026, the Department of Energy quietly announced it would transfer 20 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium — enough for roughly 2,000 nuclear warheads — to five private companies. The next day, Pam Bondi was added to PCAST, the presidential science advisory board whose members overlap directly with the companies receiving the material.
The Leah Files followed the money through all five companies and found a web of conflicts of interest, revolving doors, and foreign entanglements connecting them to PCAST, the DOE, and each other. Oklo's CEO sits on PCAST while its stock surged 59%. The DOE Secretary sat on Oklo's board until months before taking office. Andreessen invests in Standard Nuclear through a16z — while also sitting on PCAST. One recipient, Exodys Energy, has raised only $2.47M and has no working reactor. Another, Standard Nuclear, is a joint venture with a French state company that has an active partnership with Russia's Rosatom.
Then there are the scientists. 11 researchers connected to nuclear, fusion, and defense programs have turned up dead or missing — and their work traces directly back to the companies and leadership in this network. The most direct link: Nuno Loureiro, who directed the MIT lab that spun out Commonwealth Fusion Systems, was shot dead at home in December 2025. Three months later, Commonwealth Fusion's CEO Bob Mumgaard was named to PCAST. Two months after that, the plutonium deal was announced.
The Federal Bodies
PCAST
- DeWitte (Oklo) — Mumgaard — Andreessen
- Ellison — Catz — Huang — Bondi (May 27)
Department of Energy
- Sec. Chris Wright (former Oklo board)
- 3 of 11 Oklo directors are DOE alumni
The 5 Companies
CEO + COO sold $60M+ in stock on 10b5-1 plan from 3/31/25.
Board includes: 3 ex-DOE officials, Koch, MITRE.
Joint venture with Framatome (French state) with active Rosatom partnership.
a16z investor — Andreessen (also PCAST member).
FDA warning letter 3/24/26: $2B market cap loss + securities suit.
Pu-238 → NASA fuel pipeline.
DOE-funded research. No commercial reactor.
Co-founded with La Hague, France.
Board: V/Adm Hilarides (NAVSEA, $100B procurement).
The Key Figures
11 Scientists Dead or Missing
Deceased
The lab that spun out Commonwealth Fusion (Mumgaard's company).
Missing
Nuno Loureiro directed MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, the lab that spun out Commonwealth Fusion Systems. He was shot at home Dec 15–16, 2025. Three months later, Commonwealth Fusion's CEO Bob Mumgaard was named to PCAST. Two months after that, PCAST member companies received 20 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium.