---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6287"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6287"
heading: "Matters relating to critical decisions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6287"
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"
---

# §6287. Matters relating to critical decisions

- (a) **Post-critical Decision 2 Changes.—** After the date on which a plant project specifically authorized by law and carried out under [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy Order 413.3B (relating to [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) management and project management for the acquisition of capital assets), or a successor order, achieves critical decision 2, the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) may not change the requirements for such project if such change increases the cost of such project by more than the lesser of $5,000,000 or 15 percent, unless—
  - (1) the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) submits to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16)—
    - (A) a certification that the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3), without delegation, authorizes such proposed change; and
    - (B) a cost-benefit and risk analysis of such proposed change, including with respect to—
      - (i) the effects of such proposed change on the project cost and schedule; and
      - (ii) any mission risks and operational risks from making such change or not making such change; and
  - (2) a period of 15 days elapses following the date of such submission.
- (b) **Review and Approval.—** The [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall ensure that critical decision packages are timely reviewed and either approved or disapproved.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1435.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2755 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).