---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6273"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6273"
heading: "Minor construction projects"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6273"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 607 — Budget and Financial Management Matters"
  - "Subchapter I — Recurring National Security Authorization Provisions"
---

# §6273. Minor construction projects

- (a) **Authority.—** Using operation and maintenance funds or [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) and infrastructure funds authorized by a [DOE national security authorization](/usc/10/6271.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy may carry out minor construction projects.
- (b) **Annual Report.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall submit to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) on an annual basis a report on each exercise of the authority in [subsection (a)](#a) during the preceding fiscal year. Each report shall provide a brief description of each minor construction project covered by the report. The report shall include with respect to each project the following:
  - (1) The estimated [original](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-10) total project cost and the estimated [original](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-10) date of completion.
  - (2) The percentage of the project that is complete.
  - (3) The current estimated total project cost and estimated date of completion.
- (c) **Cost Variation Reports to Congressional Committees.—** If, at any time during the construction of any minor construction project authorized by a [DOE national security authorization](/usc/10/6271.md?p=1), the estimated cost of the project is revised and the revised cost of the project exceeds the [minor construction threshold](/usc/10/6271.md?p=2-A), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall immediately submit to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) a report explaining the reasons for the cost variation.
- (d) **Notification Required for Certain Projects.—** Notwithstanding [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may not start a minor construction project with a total estimated cost of more than $5,000,000 until—
  - (1) the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) notifies the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) of such project and total estimated cost; and
  - (2) a period of 15 days has elapsed after the date on which such notification is received.
- (e) **Minor Construction Project Defined.—** In this section, the term “minor construction project” means any plant project not specifically authorized by law for which the approved total estimated cost does not exceed the [minor construction threshold](/usc/10/6271.md?p=2-A).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1426.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2743 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).