Conclusion

The initial findings and recommendations in this paper are based on CNAS analysis and interviews with both career and political appointees in the federal agencies, EOP, and Congress. CNAS collected this information in a “wiki,” which was opened for contributions and comments from some interviewees and can be viewed by request.

The information in the wiki was then used to create a “map” of the U.S. government, which will be publicly released in January 2009, along with revised findings and recommendations, in a public event. In addition, CNAS conducted a small workshop on November 24th with a select group of individuals identified as possible change agents in the course of the research. Through the sponsor of the project, the Markle Foundation, CNAS also had the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, who focused on private sector views of public policy on energy.

Ultimately, the most important element in harnessing the power of the federal government to achieve energy security will be people – the President himself, but also the people of the EOP, the federal agencies, and Congress, and the relationships among them. We believe, however, that a strategy and structural upgrade can help create the conditions in which people will succeed.

CNAS is well aware that presidential transition teams are conducting a systematic analysis of how to shape and staff the federal agencies. We hope that the initial findings and recommendations offered in this paper may make some modest contribution to that effort.