DOE’s broad policy and science focus

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) traces its history to the World War II Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb. After the ware, the U.S. created the Atomic Energy Commission to oversee nuclear projects. Years later, in 1973, the oil crisis pointed to the need for a national energy policy. In 1977, President Carter created the Department of Energy to combine these two priorities and coordinate the work of the 17 national laboratories. Today, DOE sponsors more physical sciences research than any other federal agency. The Human Genome Project that mapped all the genes in the human body even began as a DOE initiative.

DOE increases nuclear nonproliferation and ensures the security of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. It also manages the strategic petroleum reserve and helps protect the U.S. energy infrastructure. As part of this focus, DOE jointly manages the ENERGY STAR® program with the EPA. For more information, visit the agency’s blog and follow it on Facebook and Twitter.