{"679707":{"#nid":"679707","#data":{"type":"news","title":" From Watts to Warheads: Secretary of Energy Oversees Big Science Research and the US Nuclear Arsenal","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Department of Energy was created in 1977 by merging two agencies with different missions: the Atomic Energy Commission, which developed, tested and maintained the nation\u2019s nuclear weapons, and the Energy Research and Development Administration, a collection of domestic energy research programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday the department describes itself, with what some might call understatement, as \u201cone of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/lm\/brief-history-department-energy\u0022\u003Emost interesting and diverse agencies\u003C\/a\u003E in the Federal government.\u201d Its annual budget of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-06\/doe-fy2024-budget-in-brief-v5.pdf\u0022\u003Eroughly US$50 billion\u003C\/a\u003E supports some \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/trumpadministration.archives.performance.gov\/energy\/\u0022\u003E14,000 employees and 95,000 contractors\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe secretary of energy advises the president on energy policy and guides energy and nuclear weapons production initiatives. As researchers who study \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=KgIcD3cAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Eenergy efficiency\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=0bP6RhYAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Enational security\u003C\/a\u003E and who work with the Energy Department, we have seen that its secretary needs to be able to think long-term and make strategic decisions, sometimes with incomplete information. A good grasp of science, engineering and energy technology is helpful, as are the abilities to lead a large organization and to work with Congress.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EScientific Research and Development\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Energy Department\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/science\/office-science\u0022\u003EOffice of Science\u003C\/a\u003E supports a large portion of basic U.S. scientific research, including fusion energy, particle physics, chemistry and material science. Together with the agency\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/eere\/office-energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy\u0022\u003EOffice of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy\u003C\/a\u003E, the agency manages a research portfolio with a budget of roughly $12 billion \u2013 nearly as large as that of the U.S. National Science Foundation, the other major federal funder of basic research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany energy secretaries have made their greatest marks by supporting and directing research. For example, during the first Trump administration, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/person\/rick-perry\u0022\u003ERick Perry\u003C\/a\u003E recognized potential cyber-terrorism risks to U.S. energy infrastructure and supported research in artificial intelligence. This led to the creation of the agency\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/ceser\/office-cybersecurity-energy-security-and-emergency-response\u0022\u003EOffice of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/steven-chu-resigns-us-energy-secretary\u0022\u003ESteven Chu\u003C\/a\u003E, who led the department from 2009 to 2013 under former President Barack Obama, initiated the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arpa-e.energy.gov\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Research Projects Agency\u2013Energy, or ARPA-E\u003C\/a\u003E, a division that focuses on new, cutting-edge energy innovations at stages too early to attract private-sector investment. ARPA-E projects have led to the creation of over 100 new companies and to over 1,000 patents on a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arpa-e.energy.gov\/about\/our-impact\/2023-impact-card#\u0022\u003Ewide range of energy technologies\u003C\/a\u003E, including hybrid-electric aircraft, carbon dioxide capture from the air and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arpa-e.energy.gov\/impact-sheet\/smart-wires-geni\u0022\u003Eimproved electricity transmission\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost recently, during the Biden administration, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/person\/jennifer-m-granholm\u0022\u003EJennifer Granholm\u003C\/a\u003E focused on working with business and industry to deploy clean energy technologies in support of U.S. climate goals. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/articles\/remarks-delivered-secretary-jennifer-granholm-new-industrial-revolution-clean-energy\u0022\u003EThis effort\u003C\/a\u003E has included offering grants, loans and rebates, filling gaps in supply chains, and promoting domestic manufacturing of components such as advanced batteries and solar panels.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4oMAhpdCIXA?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EDuring the Biden administration, the Energy Department offered large-scale grants and loans to promote domestic manufacturing of clean energy technologies, such as advanced batteries.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EResearch Payoffs\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMuch of the research that the Energy Department funds can take years to produce results with commercial applications, but it has had some notable successes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince the late 1970s, the agency has invested significantly in shale oil research. Combined with additional research and development by private energy companies, the Energy Department helped develop \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/thebreakthrough.org\/issues\/energy\/us-government-role-in-shale-gas-fracking-history-a-response-to-our-critics\u0022\u003Efracking and horizontal drilling\u003C\/a\u003E. These technologies have revolutionized petroleum and natural gas production and made the U.S. the world\u2019s largest \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/todayinenergy\/detail.php?id=61545\u0022\u003Eproducer of oil\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/264101\/world-natural-gas-production-by-country\/\u0022\u003Enatural gas\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Department funding supported the commercialization of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/led-lighting\u0022\u003ELED lights\u003C\/a\u003E, which are highly efficient and long-lasting. It also has enabled breakthroughs in other \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nap.nationalacademies.org\/catalog\/10165\/energy-research-at-doe-was-it-worth-it-energy-efficiency\u0022\u003Eenergy-efficient technologies\u003C\/a\u003E, solar and wind energy production, battery technology, and geothermal and wave energy. The agency provides critical support for research on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/fusion-energy\u0022\u003Enuclear fusion\u003C\/a\u003E, which promises to be a clean and abundant source of energy, although it is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/nuclear-fusion-could-one-day-be-a-viable-clean-energy-source-but-big-engineering-challenges-stand-in-the-way-237544\u0022\u003Efar from commercialization today\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere also are large swaths of U.S. energy policy that the Energy Department doesn\u2019t control. For example, leases and permits for energy production \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.blm.gov\/\u0022\u003Eon public lands\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.boem.gov\/\u0022\u003Ein federal waters\u003C\/a\u003E are awarded by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/\u0022\u003EDepartment of the Interior\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ferc.gov\/\u0022\u003EFederal Energy Regulatory Commission\u003C\/a\u003E, an independent agency, controls the siting of oil and natural gas pipelines and interstate electricity transmission lines. Another independent agency, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nrc.gov\/\u0022\u003ENuclear Regulatory Commission\u003C\/a\u003E, licenses and regulates the nuclear power industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, energy secretaries often champion broad strategies that overlap with the mission and authority of other federal departments and agencies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ENuclear Weapons and National Security\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Energy Department\u2019s other mission \u2013 developing and maintaining nuclear weapons \u2013 is steered by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/nnsa\/national-nuclear-security-administration\u0022\u003ENational Nuclear Security Administration\u003C\/a\u003E, a semi-autonomous agency within the department. Organizationally, the NNSA is the great-grandchild of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.osti.gov\/opennet\/manhattan-project-history\/Events\/1945-present\/med_45-46.htm\u0022\u003EManhattan Engineer District\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 the post-World War II incarnation of the Manhattan Project that developed the first U.S. atomic weapons.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NNSA is headed by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/nnsa\/person\/jill-hruby\u0022\u003Ean administrator\u003C\/a\u003E who also serves as undersecretary of energy for nuclear security, a Senate-confirmed position. When the energy secretary\u2019s background is in domestic energy \u2013 like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/libertyenergy.com\/about\/leadership\/\u0022\u003Eoil executive Chris Wright\u003C\/a\u003E, President-elect Trump\u2019s choice to head the agency \u2013 the leader of the NNSA is likely to be especially influential on national security issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf the Energy Department\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/national-laboratories\u0022\u003E17 national laboratories\u003C\/a\u003E, three \u2013 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lanl.gov\/\u0022\u003ELos Alamos\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sandia.gov\/\u0022\u003ESandia\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.llnl.gov\/\u0022\u003ELawrence Livermore\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 are officially overseen by the NNSA. Others receive significant NNSA funding and play roles in maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NNSA also oversees \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nnss.gov\/about-the-nnss\/\u0022\u003Eexperimental and testing facilities\u003C\/a\u003E and other sites involved in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/nnsa\/us-nuclear-weapons-stockpile\u0022\u003Edesign, production and testing of nuclear weapons\u003C\/a\u003E. It is responsible for storing and securing warheads that are not deployed at military installations, and for dismantling retired warheads.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA separate office, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/em\/office-environmental-management\u0022\u003EEnvironmental Management\u003C\/a\u003E, oversees the cleanup of nuclear research and production sites, some of which have contamination \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/lm\/about-us\u0022\u003Edating back to World War II\u003C\/a\u003E. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-03\/doe-fy2024-budget-in-brief.pdf\u0022\u003Elargest environmental cleanup program in the world\u003C\/a\u003E, it consumes about $8 billion annually \u2013 one-sixth of the agency\u2019s entire budget. It handles large amounts of radioactive wastes, spent nuclear fuel, excess plutonium and uranium, and contaminated facilities, soil and groundwater.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NNSA plays a critical role in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/nnsa\/nonproliferation\u0022\u003Epreventing the spread of nuclear weapons\u003C\/a\u003E and the materials and technologies needed to make them. It is part of the intelligence community with deep technical expertise, and responds to nuclear and radiological threats globally.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, the NNSA designs and supports the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/nnsa\/powering-navy\u0022\u003Enuclear reactors that propel Navy ships and submarines\u003C\/a\u003E around the globe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHistorically, the NNSA administrator has had a great deal of autonomy. Most administrators bring deep technical and policy expertise to the job. Some are retired Navy or Air Force officers who have worked with nuclear weapons or naval propulsion systems. Others are researchers with long tenures at Department of Energy laboratories.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAging Weapons, Sites, and Workers\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next energy secretary and NNSA administrator will face major technical, economic and management challenges. The NNSA has been working for years to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/nuclear-weapons-and-forces-sustainment-and-modernization\u0022\u003Emodernize nuclear weapons production infrastructure\u003C\/a\u003E, which is aging and underfunded. At the same time, the Energy Department is working with the Defense Department to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2024\/10\/10\/opinion\/nuclear-weapons-us-price.html\u0022\u003Eupdate U.S. nuclear weapons and strategic nuclear forces\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 bombers, ballistic missiles and submarines \u2013 to deter threats from other nations. This effort \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fas.org\/publication\/nuclear-weapons-2024\/\u0022\u003Ecould cost up to $1.7 trillion\u003C\/a\u003E over several decades.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VTQ8yZSyrC0?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EReplacing aging Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles is just one component of a large-scale modernization of U.S. nuclear forces.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of the NNSA\u2019s major modernization projects are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/gao-23-104402\u0022\u003Eover budget and years behind schedule\u003C\/a\u003E. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently reported that the NNSA \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/gao-24-106342.pdf\u0022\u003Eneeds to improve its program management practices\u003C\/a\u003E in order to control costs and successfully execute these expensive initiatives.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe incoming administration will also have to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/2022-Nuclear-Posture-Review.pdf\u0022\u003Erecruit and sustain a highly skilled workforce\u003C\/a\u003E for nuclear security programs. Many retirement-eligible employees have already left the agency. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.rand.org\/content\/dam\/rand\/pubs\/research_reports\/RRA1200\/RRA1227-1\/RAND_RRA1227-1.pdf\u0022\u003EMore will exit\u003C\/a\u003E over the next four years, often drawn by private-sector salaries and perceived better working conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the Energy Department touts its high-tech laboratories and research facilities, the agency\u2019s people are equally critical to its mission.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis story is part of a \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us\/topics\/cabinet-profile-168416\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eseries of profiles\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E of Cabinet and high-level administration positions.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/245993\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/from-watts-to-warheads-secretary-of-energy-oversees-big-science-research-and-the-us-nuclear-arsenal-245993\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Department of Energy was created in 1977 by merging two agencies with different missions: the Atomic Energy Commission, which developed, tested and maintained the nation\u2019s nuclear weapons, and the Energy Research and Development Administration.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The U.S. Department of Energy was created in 1977 by merging two agencies with different missions: the Atomic Energy Commission, which developed, tested and maintained the nation\u2019s nuclear weapons, and the Energy Research and Development Administration."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-01-17 16:15:19","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 13:12:36","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-12T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-12T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676053":{"id":"676053","type":"image","title":" The Energy Department recently finished modernizing the B61-12 nuclear bomb, extending its service life by at least 20 years. Devan Halstead, U.S. Air Force","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Energy Department recently finished modernizing the B61-12 nuclear bomb, extending its service life by at least 20 years. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.whiteman.af.mil\/News\/Art\/igphoto\/2003032217\/\u0022\u003EDevan Halstead, U.S. Air Force\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1737130927","gmt_created":"2025-01-17 16:22:07","changed":"1737130927","gmt_changed":"2025-01-17 16:22:07","alt":" The Energy Department recently finished modernizing the B61-12 nuclear bomb, extending its service life by at least 20 years. Devan Halstead, U.S. Air Force","file":{"fid":"259758","name":"file-20250110-15-d9snhi copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/17\/file-20250110-15-d9snhi%20copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/17\/file-20250110-15-d9snhi%20copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":368569,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/17\/file-20250110-15-d9snhi%20copy.jpg?itok=kZS5u0tT"}}},"media_ids":["676053"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/from-watts-to-warheads-secretary-of-energy-oversees-big-science-research-and-the-us-nuclear-arsenal-245993","title":"Read This Story on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"57458","name":"ISyE External News"},{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthors:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/valerie-thomas-1633560\u0022\u003EValerie Thomas\u003C\/a\u003E, professor of Industrial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/margaret-e-kosal-2280532\u0022\u003EMargaret E. Kosal\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}