Elon Musk’s government-slashing team is reviewing possible cuts across the Department of Energy, according to materials circulated at an internal meeting and obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News.
Staffers who tuned into an online DOE meeting last week were informed that the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is reviewing information from across the department regarding “active acquisition and financial assistance.”
The meeting arrives as lists circulate within the agency and on Capitol Hill, showing what appears to be long lists of projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law that are up for potential cuts under the Trump administration. One draft that POLITICO obtained suggests funding for up to four hydrogen production hubs could be cut.
The document is now drawing political pushback from both sides of the aisle.
The slides offer a behind-the-scenes window into the process, as well as the role that DOGE is playing.
According to the slides, DOGE requested information on awards from all agencies, and DOE’s Office of Management submitted information to the group March 20.
“We are waiting for feedback from DOGE and will follow [administration designee] guidance in the interim,” one slide states.
DOGE — a group of engineers, entrepreneurs and executives — has arrived at agencies across the government with the goal of reducing spending. A cadre of engineers tied to DOGE landed at DOE earlier this year, including Adam Ramada, previously a Miami venture capitalist; Luke Farritor, a 23-year-old engineer and former intern at Musk’s SpaceX who studied at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln; and Ryan Riedel, who most recently worked as a “lead network security engineer” at SpaceX. Riedel has since left the agency.
DOE career staffers in various divisions through the agency granted anonymity to speak freely said they’ve been asked to cull the information about spending tied to the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law but offered no insight into how the information would be used.
The White House and DOGE did not immediately respond when asked about the contents of the slides, DOGE’s role in the review and how the data is being used.
When asked about the emerging lists of projects, a spokesperson for DOE said the agency cannot confirm the validity of any anonymously sourced lists circulating in the press. Most reporters, the spokesperson noted, have declined to share the lists with the agency, and the ones the department reviewed appeared to have been fabricated.
Ben Dietderich, a spokesperson for DOE, however, confirmed a review is underway.
“The Energy Department is conducting a department-wide review, which includes funding such as grants and loans, to ensure all activities are consistent with President [Donald] Trump’s executive orders and priorities,” said Dietderich. “The American people provided President Trump with a mandate to govern and to unleash ‘American Energy Dominance.’ The Department of Energy is hard at work to deliver on President Trump’s promise to restore affordable, reliable, and secure energy to the American people.
“The review is ongoing, and speculation by anonymous sources about the results of the review are just that — speculation,” added Dietderich.
The slides shine a light on DOE’s attempts to provide clarity amid the ongoing reviews through a Q&A-style list, with questions — and answers — touching on how to handle national lab prizes and funding announcements that are not yet closed.
One question asked, “Will we be directed to cancel [Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act] and IRA awards.” The response stated: “We cannot answer at this time. We are working through these questions at the Department level. More to come on this as information is available.”
Yet another question asked, “Can recipients continue to work?”
The response: “Right now, IIJA/IRA funding (as well as Base funding) is being reviewed through a formal process with DOE leadership. Each recipient must determine what they work on at this time.” DOE management in the slide said the agency is not to “engage” in those discussions.
The cost-cutting efforts under Trump go far beyond axing spending. This week, DOE leadership also told staff to prepare for possible “restructuring” of the agency and moved to reinstate a program that would give staffers a chance to voluntarily leave before the administration’s mandatory cuts take place, according to a memo obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News.
In a memo to staff, Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted that Trump on Feb. 11 signed an executive order that requires agency heads to promptly prepare to initiate large-scale reductions in force.
