People

DOE’s mission is growing, but its workforce is declining. This data set provides transparent data and unbiased analysis of how people impact the pace and scale of innovation.

What We’re Finding

staffing reductions

cost of reductions

DOE STAFF CHANGE OVER TIME

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 Cuts Save Little While Limiting DOE’s Ability To Meet Its Objectives

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

  • Staff cuts are an ineffective cost cutting measure …

  • … And leave remaining staff with historically large workloads

    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 Cuts 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.

Historical changes in DOE staffing levels

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

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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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Examine DOE’s impact across implementation, staffing, budgets, and technology—and how it’s shaping U.S. energy innovation.

  • Projects

    Progress on technology deployment

  • Spending

    Federal investments in innovation