# Department of Energy 

[Back to Downsizing Government](/downsizing-government) 

##### Latest Blog Posts 

##### [America’s Private Sector Is Ready to Build—Will Washington Pave the Way with Permitting Reform?](/blog/americas-private-sector-ready-build-will-washington-pave-way-permitting-reform) 

By [Travis Fisher](https://www.cato.org/people/travis-fisher) and [Michael Abi-Nader](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-abi-nader) 

##### [Sec. Wright: “We Will Never Come Remotely Close to Running Out of Hydrocarbons,” Oil, Coal, Natural Gas](/blog/sec-wright-we-will-never-come-remotely-close-running-out-hydrocarbons) 

By [Michael Chapman](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-chapman) 

##### [The Doomslayers Are Shaping America’s Energy Policy](/blog/doomslayers-are-shaping-americas-energy-policy) 

By [Travis Fisher](https://www.cato.org/people/travis-fisher) and David M. Simon 

### [Timeline: Department of Energy](/downsizing-government-essay/department-energy-timeline)

Explore a historical timeline of U.S. energy policy, highlighting major laws, technological developments, subsidies, and organizational milestones in the federal energy sector.

[View Timeline](/downsizing-government-essay/department-energy-timeline) 

##### Department of Energy Spending 

[![Dept. of Energy Static Graph](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2025-10/EnergyOutlays.png?itok=GdkJvvYt)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG005) 

This chart was generated using our [interactive charting tool](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG005), which visualizes data from the federal spending database released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

#### FEATURED CONTENT 

[![Green Energy](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-02/Green%20Energy%20Cropped.jpg?itok=8QV8Qa5r)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/energy-subsidies) 

Study 

### [Energy Subsidies](/downsizing-government-essay/energy-subsidies) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

The department has spent billions of dollars over the decades on dead-end schemes and dubious projects that have often had large cost overruns.

[![Biofuel Refinery](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-05/biofuel-refiniery%20Cropped.jpg?itok=PWLSG48O)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/ethanol-biofuel-policies) 

Study 

### [Ethanol and Biofuel Policies](/downsizing-government-essay/ethanol-biofuel-policies) 

By Nick Loris 

The government subsidizes biofuels, such as corn ethanol, and imposes a mandate to blend biofuels into gasoline and diesel fuel. These policies impose costs on taxpayers and motorists, while raising food prices and harming the environment.

[![Energy Sources Cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-03/energy-sources-cropped.jpg?itok=t5W8u-Se)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/brief-history-federal-energy-regulations) 

Study 

### [A Brief History of Federal Energy Regulations](/downsizing-government-essay/brief-history-federal-energy-regulations) 

By [Peter Van Doren](https://www.cato.org/people/peter-van-doren) 

Most federal intrusions into energy markets have been serious mistakes. They have destabilized markets, reduced domestic output, and decreased consumer welfare.

[![Downsizing Government](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2025-05/Downsizing%20Gov.png?itok=4YAi4cGI)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) 

##### About 

The federal government is running huge budget deficits, spending too much, and heading toward a financial crisis. Without a change of direction in Washington, average working families will be faced with large tax increases and a lower standard of living. This project is designed to help policymakers and the public understand where federal spending goes and how to reform each government department. It describes the failings of agencies and identifies specific programs to cut. It also discusses the systematic reasons why government programs are often obsolete, mismanaged, or otherwise dysfunctional.

Please contact Chris Edwards at [cedwards@​cato.​org](mailto:cedwards@cato.org) with questions or comments.

[Information on the data sources for our charts.](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts?showAbout=true)