Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS), a federal contractor at the Hanford Site, has agreed to pay $3.45 million to settle allegations that it overcharged the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for labor hours that were not actually worked.
The settlement addresses claims under the False Claims Act that HMIS management knowingly allowed employees to record full shifts even when they had not been assigned enough work, resulting in inflated costs reimbursed by DOE. HMIS has held a multi-billion dollar contract with DOE since 2020, providing infrastructure and site services critical to environmental cleanup efforts at Hanford.
According to court filings, HMIS admitted that between August 17, 2020, and September 30, 2025, it sought and received reimbursement for excessive idle time among its workforce. The company acknowledged instances where personnel were not given enough tasks but still recorded their time as if working entire shifts. Of the total settlement amount paid by HMIS, $1.725 million is restitution.
“Corporate fraud perpetrated upon the taxpayer at Hanford distracts from DOE’s vital clean up mission,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Serrano. “This resolution shows our continuing commitment to fighting fraud at Hanford and to ensuring that those tasked with the responsibility of essential environmental cleanup do not abuse our trust in them. I am grateful that HMIS ultimately did the right thing by admitting its conduct and paying back twice what it took from the taxpayers. I hope every individual and business that contracts with the federal government sees this settlement and knows there’s a real risk of prosecution when the United States is defrauded.”
The case began after an HMIS employee filed a sealed whistleblower complaint in December 2021 under the False Claims Act in U.S. District Court for Eastern Washington. A second complaint was filed by the same whistleblower in May 2024 with additional allegations against HMIS. Under law, such complaints require government investigation before any action is taken or declined; whistleblowers may share in any recovery resulting from their information.
As part of this settlement resolving both complaints, the whistleblower will receive $793,500 plus attorney fees paid by HMIS.
“I thank and commend the relator-whistleblower for bringing serious and credible allegations of fraud to our attention” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Serrano. “Through the relator’s information and the years’ long investigation, we are able to uncover fraud and hold HMIS accountable. I hope the public sees this and understands that when viable information is reported to law enforcement, whether that’s through the filing of an under seal qui tam complaint or stepping forward as a witness, they allow the Department of Justice to do its job and hold fraudsters accountable” continued Serrano.
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions commented on efforts made by oversight agencies: “The Office of Inspector General remains committed to ensuring the integrity of the Department’s contractors by detecting and holding accountable those who engage in schemes to defraud the Government. The American taxpayers should never be responsible for the costs associated with work that was not performed. This settlement is the result of a collaborative effort with our Office of Investigation’s team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who have repeatedly demonstrated their dedication to ensure public funds are used for the mission-related purposes for which they are intended,” stated Sessions.“I would like to extend my deep gratitude to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for pursuing this matter as we remain devoted to partner with them to aggressively investigate those who seek to defraud Department programs and American taxpayers.”
The investigation leading up to this settlement was conducted jointly by prosecutors from Assistant United States Attorneys Frieda K. Zimmerman, Jacob E. Brooks, Molly M.S Smith, Tyler H.L Tornabene; attorneys representing Smith & Lowney PLLC; Mehri & Skalet PLLC; Hanford Challenge; along with officials from DOE’s Office of Inspector General.
