The Trump administration is fleshing out a budget proposal to support an overhaul of the Department of Energy, proposing steep cuts to most clean energy technology programs and a hefty funding boost for maintaining and upgrading America’s fleet of nuclear weapons.
In a “budget in brief” document for fiscal 2026 posted Monday, DOE said it is looking to zero out funding for solar, wind and hydrogen offices and slash spending by more than 30 percent for offices focused exclusively on electricity and fossil fuels.
Trump’s $46.3 billion proposal also directs DOE’s new Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, designed to help cut industrial emissions, to “wind down operations.” And it calls for cutting the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) by more than 70 percent.
The budget proposal isn’t likely to make it through Congress without significant changes. Still, the document provides a window into how the administration wants to revamp programs, alter staffing and redirect funding to support nuclear energy and other priorities of Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The proposal also may work in tandem with the rolling back of clean energy tax credits under the Republican’s budget reconciliation package before the Senate.
