Energy, Department of

US government department created by Congress in 1977 to oversee the Federal Energy Administration, Federal Power Commission, Energy Research and Development Administration, and various other energy-related agencies from other departments. The DOE has important national security responsibilities. It maintains the safety, security, and reliability of the US nuclear weapons stockpile. Its research supports US energy security and environmental quality. It has a budget of over US$20 billion and more than 100,000 federal and contractor employees (2003). The secretary of energy is Samuel W Bodman (from 2005).