People

Federal staff is integral to deploying and managing projects. As DOE’s responsibilities continue to evolve, understanding the department’s workforce capacity is increasingly important. There are two datasets within the People category. The People (By Office) data set provides office-level workforce data on DOE’s science and energy innovation offices. The People (By Occupation) data set provides agencywide workforce data by occupation. These data provide transparent information and objective analysis of DOE’s workforce size, composition, staffing trends, and contractor use.

What We’re Finding

FY25-FY27 staff levels

Staff levels at select offices

staffing reductions

cost of reductions

DOE STAFF CHANGE OVER TIME

The White House Requested a slight increase in overall staff across DOE’s science and energy innovation offices in FY27

FTE levels at DOE’s science and energy innovation offices, FY25 – FY27

FY25 numbers are confirmed; FY26 numbers are estimates; FY27 numbers are requested staff

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Note: The EFI Foundation’s analysis focuses exclusively on DOE’s science and energy innovation offices, unless noted otherwise. See our methodology for a full list of offices tracked. “FTE” is used throughout to mean full-time equivalents for federal employees, as measured by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Data are from OMB’s Presidential Budget Request Technical Supplement for fiscal year 2027.

The White House Requested increases for staff at most priority offices

FTE levels at select DOE offices, FY25 – FY27

FY25 numbers are confirmed; FY26 numbers are estimates; FY27 numbers are requested staff

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Note: “FTE” is used throughout to mean full-time equivalents for federal employees, as measured by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Data are from OMB’s Presidential Budget Request Technical Supplement for fiscal year 2027. “EDF” is used for LPO accounts; “HGEO” is used for both FE and HGEO accounts.

The White House Proposed Steep Staffing Cuts Even for Offices Supporting Its Technology Priorities

In many cases, these offices’ staffing levels are projected to be smaller than they were in the first Trump administration, despite the fact that U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) budgetary resources and responsibilities have grown.

Proposed FY26 staff reductions compared to FY24 levels

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Note: “FTE” is used throughout to mean full-time equivalents for federal employees, as measured by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Data are from OMB’s Presidential Budget Request Technical Supplement for fiscal year 2026.

Staff Reductions Save Little While Increasing Workloads

  • Staff salaries and benefits comprise 2% of DOE’s overall spending on science and energy innovation.

  • Proposed staff reductions represent a 33% increase in amount of funding to be deployed per FTE.

    Ratio of total budgetary resources to federal staff, science and energy innovation programs (excluding LPO), 2017-2026. Calculated as the ratio of DOE’s total budgetary resources (in millions) to FTEs, by fiscal year.

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Note: “Object classes” are categories defined by OMB that indicate the purpose of government spending, such as salaries, grants, etc. “Federal employees” encompasses object classes 11 and 12: “Compensation” and “Benefits”.

Staff Reductions in 2025 Mark the Largest in Recent History

DOE’s unprecedented workforce cuts may have played a role in the department’s limited spending last year.

Net staff changes, DOE-wide

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Note: 2015-2024 data from FedScope; 2025 data from DOE’s September 2025 Lapse Plan.

Federal Data to Drive Innovation

The Energy Innovation Project aggregates federal data into a centralized database designed to equip policymakers with credible, decision-useful information.

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About This Data Set

Transparent data and unbiased analysis of DOE staffing, budgeting, and contracting needs are crucial. EFIF is assembling relevant data from hundreds of federal government reports to provide new insights into how people impact progress in innovation.

This data and analysis focuses on DOE’s energy and science innovation programs, examining DOE workforce trends, staffing levels, skill sets, and how contractors are used to execute the mission.

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