Energy Department Lacks Clean Energy Oversight, Watchdog Says

The Energy Department is at risk for failing to adequately oversee clean energy funding due to ongoing budget and staff cuts, the Government Accountability Office found in a new report.

DOE created the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations in 2021 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to manage $27 billion in funding for clean energy projects. As of November 2025, that office had committed more than $18 billion to about 100 projects.

However, “a significant decrease in its workforce and other changes in 2025 have reduced its oversight capacity,” GAO said. A proposal to cut its entire budget ...