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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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Fusion Energy Sciences

This program supports facilities and research in plasma science, fusion energy science, and technologies aimed at providing the scientific basis for a possible future fusion energy source.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Moderately Effective

In general, a program rated Moderately Effective has set ambitious goals and is well-managed. Moderately Effective programs likely need to improve their efficiency or address other problems in the programs' design or management in order to achieve better results.
  • The program is using external expert panel assessments to review the quality, relevance, and performance of the program's research portfolio and grant management process. They have also begun assessing progress toward the long term goals of the program.
  • The program does not yet have a strategy for the future of its domestic research facilities within the context of the worldwide fusion energy research enterprise. This lack of a prioritized plan hinders the ability of the program to strategically respond to competing needs for facility funding, including the U.S. contributions to the international fusion experiment known as ITER.
  • The program did not successfully engage its advisory panel in a top to bottom scientific prioritization as recommended in a recent National Academies study. To date, the advisory panel has only prioritized activities requiring additional funding, but not for the ongoing program.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Developing strategic and implementation plans in response to multiple Congressional requirements.
  • Implementing the recommendations of expert review panels, especially two major National Academies studies, as appropriate.

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