Department of Energy
Because you need it, yo!
Importance of the Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material. Its responsibilities include the nation'snuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research,radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production.
Ernest Moniz
Ernest Jeffrey Moniz (born December 22, 1944) is an American nuclear physicist and the current and the 13th United States Secretary of Energy, serving under President Barack Obama since May, 2013. He previously served in as the Associate Director for Science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President of the United States during theClinton Administration from 1995 to 1997 and in the United States Department of Energy, serving as Under Secretary of Energy, from 1997 to 2001.
Current Responsibility
The DOE/NNSA has federal responsibility for the design, testing and production of all nuclear weapons. NNSA in turn uses contractors to carry out its responsibilities at the following government owned sites:
- Design of the nuclear components of the weapon: Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Engineering of the weapon systems: Sandia National Laboratories
- Manufacturing of key components: Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Kansas City Plant, and Y-12 National Security Complex
- Testing: Nevada Test Site
- Final weapon/warhead assembling/dismantling: Pantex
Historical Responsibility
During World War II, the DOE was in charge of the Manhattan Project, developing the atomic bomb. In December of 1999, China stole the weapons plans from the DOE that was stationed in China.
Is This Department Needed?
As long as we keep developing and researching nuclear weapons, we need this department.