The DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) will get less money in FY 2000 than in FY 1999 under President Clinton's budget proposal, scheduled to go to Congress in a few weeks. The President will propose to cut the OFES from this year's level of approximately $230 million (including approximately $7 million for program management) to approximately $204 million, including program management. For FY 1999 Congress added $1.6 million to the President's request for OFES and fusion supporters are hoping Congress may again be more receptive to fusion needs.

In FY 1999 Congress also added $10 million to DOE's Defense Program's budget to support the development of high average power lasers needed for energy applications of the inertial fusion concept. However, for FY 2000, DOE's Defense Programs will not seek continued funding for this effort.

DOE Defense Program's National Ignition Facility (NIF) will receive full funding needed to keep the construction project on schedule for its 2003 completion date.