Federal spending · FY2022
Energy
Loading Energy breakdown
Fetching FY2022 File B line items, totals and analysis from the backend.
Loading budget totals
Loading File B line items
Loading analysis
Building breakdown
Fetching FY2022 File B line items, totals and analysis from the backend.
The federal Energy function is designed to advance national energy security, promote economic prosperity, and protect the environment through a diverse portfolio of research, development, regulatory, and conservation initiatives. Its core mission encompasses fostering innovation in both traditional and renewable energy sources, ensuring the reliable and affordable supply of energy to all Americans, and mitigating the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption. Success is measured by a robust and resilient energy infrastructure, a diversified and sustainable energy mix, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and the creation of high-skilled jobs within the energy sector. Key agencies involved include the Department of Energy (DOE), which stewards the majority of energy-related research, development, and deployment programs, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for regulatory oversight and the Department of the Interior for managing energy resources on federal lands. Major program streams focus on areas such as clean energy research, grid modernization, nuclear energy, fossil energy development, energy efficiency, and emergency preparedness.
The problem
The Energy function's 'stable' status, despite a significant negative trend of -249.1% in FY2022 outlays ($16.5B), warrants careful examination. This substantial decrease, while not indicating current waste or mismanagement, suggests a potential shift in federal priorities, a significant reduction in program activity, or a one-time large expenditure in a prior period that is not recurring. The audit must investigate the drivers behind this dramatic outlay reduction. Specifically, it should ascertain whether this decline reflects successful program consolidation, a deliberate strategic pivot away from certain energy sectors, or a failure to obligate funds for critical ongoing or planned initiatives. Without clear evidence of strategic realignment or improved efficiency, such a sharp decline could mask underlying issues, such as the termination of vital research and development projects, reduced support for energy infrastructure, or a contraction in energy assistance programs that could have long-term implications for national energy security and economic competitiveness. The audit should focus on identifying the specific programs or initiatives that experienced the largest reductions and assess the programmatic and fiscal rationale for these changes.
The solution
To address the unique fiscal dynamics of the Energy sector, AI should be deployed to develop granular, forward-looking energy market simulations. This would involve constructing sophisticated models that integrate global commodity prices, geopolitical events, domestic regulatory changes, and technological innovation trajectories (e.g., renewable energy adoption rates, battery storage advancements, carbon capture efficacy). The AI would then forecast the demand for and cost of various energy sources under different policy scenarios, providing actionable insights for strategic resource allocation and investment planning. Furthermore, AI can analyze the performance of federal energy programs by correlating outlay patterns with measurable outcomes such as emission reductions, energy independence metrics, and grid reliability improvements. This would enable the identification of high-ROI initiatives and areas where funding might be redirected or re-evaluated. Specifically, AI could be used to model the impact of different subsidy structures on the commercialization of emerging clean energy technologies, helping to optimize the deployment of taxpayer resources to accelerate the energy transition.
The biggest part of Energy is Energy supply: $11.2B (68.2%).
How to read it: Tap a row to open what's inside. Colours match the chart above, and each row's share is its part of the row it sits under.
| Where it went | Gross outlays | Share | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| $11.2B68.2% | 68.2% | ||
| $2.7B16.4% | 16.4% | ||
| $2.1B12.8% | 12.8% | ||
| $427M2.6% | 2.6% |