United States Secretary of Energy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids United States Secretary of Energy |
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Flag of the secretary
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Seal of the Department of Energy
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| United States Department of Energy | |
| Style | Mr. Secretary (informal) The Honorable (formal) |
| Member of | Cabinet of the United States United States National Security Council |
| Reports to | President of the United States |
| Seat | James V. Forrestal Building, Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | President of the United States
with Senate advice and consent
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| Term length | No fixed term |
| Constituting instrument | 42 U.S.C. § 7131 |
| Formation | August 6, 1977 |
| First holder | James R. Schlesinger |
| Succession | Fifteenth |
| Deputy | Deputy Secretary |
| Salary | Executive Schedule, level I |
The United States Secretary of Energy is the leader of the United States Department of Energy. This person is also a member of the Cabinet of the United States. They are fifteenth in line to become president if something happens to the current president.
This important job was created on October 1, 1977. President Jimmy Carter signed a law to start the Department of Energy. At first, the Secretary and the Department focused on making and controlling energy. Over time, their work changed. They started focusing on new ways to create energy more efficiently. They also worked on teaching people about energy. After the Cold War, the Department also began to handle radioactive waste. They also worked on keeping our environment clean.
James Schlesinger was the first Secretary of Energy. He had also been the Secretary of Defense. He was a Republican chosen by a Democratic President, Jimmy Carter. This was the only time a president picked someone from a different political party for this job. Schlesinger is also the only Secretary of Energy who was ever removed from the position.
Many different people have held this role. Hazel O'Leary was the first woman and first African American to be Secretary of Energy. She worked for President Bill Clinton. Clinton's next Secretary, Federico Peña, was the first Hispanic person in the role. Spencer Abraham became the first Arab American Secretary on January 20, 2001. He served under President George W. Bush.
Steven Chu was appointed on January 20, 2009, by President Barack Obama. He was the first Asian American to hold the job. Steven Chu also served the longest as Secretary of Energy. He was the first person to join the Cabinet after winning a Nobel Prize. Jennifer Granholm, a former governor of Michigan, became the second woman to lead the Department of Energy. She was confirmed on February 25, 2021, under President Joe Biden. The current Secretary of Energy is Chris Wright. He was confirmed on February 4, 2025, under the Trump administration.
Contents
What the Secretary of Energy Does
The Secretary of Energy has many important duties. They lead a large team that works on energy for the whole country. This includes finding new ways to power our homes and cars. They also make sure energy is used wisely.
Energy and the Environment
A big part of the job is about making energy better for our planet. This means looking into clean energy sources. They also work on how to safely get rid of waste from energy production. The goal is to protect our environment for the future.
Nuclear Weapons and Safety
The Secretary of Energy has a very serious responsibility. They are in charge of the nation's nuclear weapons. This is a huge task, second only to the President and the Secretary of Defense. This setup ensures that regular citizens, not just the military, control these powerful weapons.
The Department of Energy builds and takes care of all nuclear weapons in the U.S. They also make sure these weapons are stored safely. This is important when the weapons are not being used by the military. The U.S. has reduced its number of nuclear weapons over time. Many older weapons are taken apart. Their radioactive material is then reused for things like power plants or space travel. This helps keep everyone safe.
See also
In Spanish: Secretario de Energía de los Estados Unidos para niños
- United States Secretary of Transportation
- White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy
