Good morning. Thank you, Chairman Babin and Ranking Member Lofgren, for holding this hearing on such a critical and timely topic. I would also like to thank Under Secretary Gil for testifying before us today.
In November, the Department of Energy released its reorganization plans outlining the creation, merger, and renaming of several key elements within the Department. This is not a unique action, as each Administration typically updates DOE’s structure to align the Department with its priorities.
The latest reforms streamline DOE’s operations and, in my view, represent a step in the right direction toward appropriately distributing the responsibilities of the Offices of the Under Secretaries for Science and Energy. Most offices focused on applied energy technologies have now been consolidated under the Under Secretary for Energy. A prime example of this is moving the Office of Fossil Energy, now renamed the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, from the Under Secretary for Science to the Under Secretary for Energy. By shifting offices responsible for established and mature technologies from the Science portfolio to the Energy portfolio, the responsibilities of the two Under Secretaries are now far more aligned than under the previous structure put in place by the Biden Administration.
Subsequently, with this restructuring, the Under Secretary for Science now has a clear mandate from the Administration to continue advancing fundamental research while driving cutting-edge innovation in critical and emerging fields vital to America’s national, economic, and energy security. Two new offices, the Office of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum and the Office of Fusion, have been established, emphasizing the central role these disciplines will play in keeping American innovation and technology in the lead. Furthermore, their creation also signals to the world America’s renewed commitment to these crucial and rapidly evolving technology sectors.
The Under Secretary for Science now has additional tools to help move trailblazing emerging science from early ideas to commercial applications. With the Office of Science and the Office of Technology Commercialization brought under the same umbrella, the research and development cycle can be accelerated by streamlining these efforts under one roof.
This reorganization appears to be a significant win for all parties involved. Researchers and companies now have streamlined, clearly defined offices at DOE to engage with, ensuring taxpayers get the best bang for their buck. It is a rare, common-sense step by the Federal Government that delivers broad benefits rather than serving only a select few.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the Genesis Mission announcement and your push to propel America’s artificial intelligence R&D. I am looking forward to hearing how the Mission will integrate with DOE’s newly reorganized structure and, more importantly, how Congress can help keep the momentum moving forward on artificial intelligence. Our adversaries have prioritized the very technologies the Genesis Mission seeks to advance, like fusion, artificial intelligence, and quantum sciences, and regardless of party, we all want America to win this race and remain at the forefront of these disciplines as they continue to grow and evolve.
Thank you, Under Secretary Gil, for attending this hearing today. I look forward to hearing your perspective on how this reorganization has strengthened the Department’s efficiency and impact, as well as how it enables DOE to execute the Genesis Mission. I yield back the balance of my time.