Energy Department Shuffle Probably Will Expel Some Research

Abstract

The Republican plan to create a smaller, more effective government includes various schemes to reshape the executive branch. Many members of Congress call for the breakup or possible elimination of several Cabinet departments. At the head of the list is the Department of Energy, a creation of the Carter Administration that has long had trouble justifying itself. Several congressional subcommittees already have begun questioning the value of all or part of DOE, and the Clinton Administration has not put much effort into defending the department. Although not actually calling for elimination of DOE, the Administration is proposing a large budget reduction for the department. Over the next five years, the Administration says it will cut more than $10 billion from DOE spending, based on a projected budget that would have been about $18 billion annually. Ironically, the proposed fiscal 1996 budget for DOE is $17.8 billion, which is actually slightly more ...