So, if you are recommending devolving DOE into the sub-cabinet level ERDA and disbanding the rest, that is a good thing to do. The problem is that people keep thinking that DOE does energy. It barely does that, and is not even a pimple on the private sector.
A lot of folks similarly believe the Dept. of Education educates. Of course, a lot of people believe in the Tooth Fairy and the Great Pumpkin, too, and that gubmint-mandated raising of the minimum wage helps workers.
I think a good rule of thumb when it comes to almost anything government is, #1, is it Constitutional ? and #2, Would the Founding Fathers approve ? Most of it tends to fail one or both.