Eliminating or at least minimizing entire Cabinet-level agencies is on the table. So, let's look at some of those agencies and evaluate the reasons for their continued existence — and the arguments for their dissolution.

First, the Department of Energy. 

The Department of Energy (DOE) was formed in 1977 in the aftermath of the 1970s oil crisis. It's important to note that part of the agenda of the second Trump administration is to re-establish American energy independence, which will greatly reduce or eliminate American vulnerability to oil price shocks; all without the addition of any Cabinet-level agencies. The DOE's Mission page states in part:

The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.

That's a fair amount of government hooraw, but a brief look at the specifics is revealing; under "Energy," the page states:

Primary energy sources take many forms, including nuclear energy, fossil energy -- like oil, coal and natural gas -- and renewable sources like wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower. These primary sources are converted to electricity, a secondary energy source, which flows through power lines and other transmission infrastructure to your home and business.

Learn more about America’s energy sources: fossil, nuclear, renewables and electricity.

That's one thing; energy, at least, would seem to be in the purview of the Department of Energy. But the DOE does a lot more than that. They oversee the National Laboratories, but they also do things that are not even tangentially related to energy, like overseeing the Human Genome Project.

Why would the Department of Energy oversee a genetics project? 

But the real meat of this issue may be found in the DOE's 2024 budget statement.

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The "Statement by Energy Secretary Granholm on The President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget" opens:

“President Biden’s budget request reflects his unwavering commitment to building a clean energy future made in America and powered by American workers,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The budget provides DOE critical resources to transform the President’s historic clean energy investments and ambitious climate vision into reality—laying the foundation for an inclusive 21st century economy that lifts up communities everywhere while boldly facing the climate crisis head-on.”

In total, DOE’s FY 2024 Budget Request is $52 billion, and makes critical, targeted investments in the American people that will promote greater prosperity and economic growth for decades to come, including:

Ah, yes, the "including," which includes (abbreviated to only the bullet point heads for all of our sanity):

• Reducing energy costs for American families.
• Sustaining America’s global leadership in science and innovation.
• Investing in inclusive clean energy solutions that benefit every American. 
• Increasing America’s Energy and National Security.

Does anyone think there is anything in there that can't be done by the private sector? 

We live in a world where NASA, who put a man on the Moon in 1969 and brought him safely home, now cannot reach the International Space Station, although SpaceX and Boeing can take men into orbit — and Elon Musk intends SpaceX to take people to Mars, and his recent progress is enough to make one wonder if he won't do it.

The DOE's budget statement's closing speaks volumes:

Building on the President’s strong record of fiscal responsibility, the Budget more than fully pays for all of its investments—reducing deficits by nearly $3 trillion over the next decade by asking the wealthy and big corporations to pay their fair share.

Now, that line in the first sentence, "...the President's strong record of fiscal responsibility," is outrageous enough to cause a spit-take, followed by gales of laughter. And the bit about reducing deficits by "...asking the wealthy and big corporations to pay their fair share" is nothing more than an enormous, steaming pile of the worst sort of leftist horse squeeze.

The fact is that the DOE does nothing that the private sector can't do better. At worst, it can be slashed by 80, 90 percent and still conduct what few major items that are actually, you know, related to energy. At best, it can be defunded and eliminated. And here's the best argument for that elimination: The Constitution makes no provision for it. There is no enumerated power of the federal government to have any hand in the energy industry. The 10th Amendment, then, actually prohibits it. 

Set the DOGE loose, Elon and Vivek. The DOE can go.