The full text of the letter is as follows:

January 10, 2008

Mr. Kaname Ikeda
Director General
ITER Organization

Dear Mr. Ikeda:

As you know, besides a modest amount for supporting research and
development, the U.S. fiscal year 2008 appropriation provided no
funding for the U.S. Contributions to the ITER Project. I want to let
you know that the U.S. is firmly committed to meeting our obligations
under the ITER Joint Implementing Agreement and that we are doing
everything possible to rectify the situation.

The U.S. ITER Project Office will continue in operation and we will
maintain support for our secondees working at the ITER Organization
(IO). For the time being, however, there will be some limitations on
our ability to fully participate in ITER activities: we will be forced
to defer our 2008 cash contribution to the IO; postpone some U.S.
design and R&D activities; and forego initiating our long-lead hardware
procurements. Given their near-term importance, we will remain engaged
in two key areas: helping the IO resolve the major technical issues
identified by the ITER Science and Technology Advisory Committee, and
assisting the IO to develop a credible ITER construction schedule.
Lastly, we will continue to actively participate in the business of the
ITER Council and its subsidiary bodies, the Science and Technology
Advisory Committee, the Management Advisory Committee, and the
Financial Audit Board.

In the months ahead, I will keep you informed of future developments on
the U.S. budget situation and any changes in our ability to meet the
U.S. commitments to the IO. If you have questions or concerns, please
contact Mr. Todd Harding at 202-586-0505 or todd.harding@science.doe.gov

Sincerely,

Raymond L. Orbach
Under Secretary for Science
U.S. Department of Energy