With a level of fanfare that signaled a significant commitment by the Bush administration to basic science research, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham used a packed National Press Club luncheon on 10 November to unveil the Department of Energy’s priority list for developing 28 major science facilities over the next two decades. The list, based on recommendations from six advisory panels, was finalized by Office of Science Director Raymond Orbach.
The high visibility of the secretary’s announcement was, in itself, considered important because such speeches are typically cleared by the White House and the Office of Management and Budget before being delivered. Abraham emphasized that the facilities list is not a funding document, but said, “Clearly, this document has implications for the budget.”
Later, in a background briefing, a senior DOE official said that the budget assumptions used in selecting the 28 facilities were based on a 60% increase in...
