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's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research, radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production. It also directs research in genomics; the Human Genome Project originated in a DOE initiative.[3] DOE sponsors more research in the physical sciences than any other U.S. federal agency, the majority of which is conducted through its system of National Laboratories.[4] The agency is administered by the United States Secretary of Energy, and its headquarters are located in Southwest Washington, D.C., on Independence Avenue in the James V. Forrestal Building, named for James Forrestal, as well as in Germantown, Maryland.
Dan Brouillette is the Secretary of Energy as of December 11, 2019.
Related Coverage
AllSides Picks
Headline Roundup
Russia Faces Renewed Fuel Shortages as Disruptions Spread to Moscow
August 21st, 2026
News
Tracking Trump’s Campaign Promises
AllSides Staff
August 13th, 2026
Red Blue Translator
Fracking
Announcement
The AllSides Student Journalism Award Opens Sept. 1
AllSides Staff
August 24th, 2026