April 26, 2017

On April 26, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology sent a letter to the Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry requesting information regarding program management at the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).  The letter was written in response to reports that the Department of Energy (DOE) has been withholding fiscal year (FY) 2016 funds on already approved grants for ARPA-E.

Ranking Member Johnson states in the letter, “Taken together with the President’s recent budget request that proposes to eliminate ARPA-E, these reports appear to suggest that the Administration is attempting to shut down the agency without Congressional authorization. Such an action would be both ill-advised and potentially illegal.” Ranking Member Johnson asks for a response by May 3 providing guidance as to whether ARPA-E is currently subject to a “no contract action” or similar action which freezes program funding, and what are the parameters if such an action is in effect.

Source: U.S. House of Representatives