Conclusion
The Department of Commerce is a Cabinet-level agency of the United States federal government responsible for promoting economic growth and development. The department was established in 1903 and has since played a significant role in the nation’s economic policy.
There are many functions performed by the DoC. They promote economic development and job creation in the United States. They conduct research and provide analysis on a wide range of economic and trade issues, including consumer spending, international trade, and innovation. They are also responsible for promoting and regulating international trade. They work to expand U.S. exports and to ensure that American businesses and workers are able to compete in the global economy. This includes negotiating trade agreements, enforcing trade laws, and providing trade-related technical assistance to businesses.
One of the key functions of the Department of Commerce is to collect, analyze, and disseminate data. This information is used by policymakers, businesses, and individuals to make informed decisions and plan for the future. A lesser-known part of this is the collection and dissemination of weather data. For over two centuries, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, has been the center of weather forecasting in the U.S. The information that is ultimately transformed into weather data comes from two sources within the agency: the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, or NESDIS, and the National Weather Service. NESDIS manages satellites that take atmospheric observations — like humidity and pressure — that are necessary components of weather forecasting. The National Weather Service then takes that information and combines it with its own weather data that it gathers from radars closer to the Earth’s surface. It then uses algorithms to produce the weather forecasts we’re used to seeing.
Private companies like Accuweather and The Weather Channel take the raw data that the NOAA and NWS provide and use their own formulas, algorithms, and design and then package that information to sell to others. Accuweather got its start by selling this information to ski resorts and gas stations. Because the weather data is free for anyone to use, this is not a problem in and of itself. But because very few people have any idea at all what the Department of Commerce even does, it is, like its siblings the Department of Education and the IRS, and even the Department of Energy, often mentioned when politicians propose chopping big chunks of government.
Maybe it is a good idea to make the federal government smaller. That is not for me to convince you one way or the other. What I will argue though, is that if someone supports closing down a department, they should know what that department does and what the impact would be if it ceased to exist. This is the government we have. We inherited it from the generations before us and the ones before them all the way back to the founding. It is ours and we pay for it with our hard earned tax money. It seems obvious, then, that we would want to use all of the tools–from management, business, science, politics, history, sociology, psychology, and everything else–to run it in the best, most efficient and effective way that we possibly can.
Public administration is a dynamic and ever-evolving field, intricately linked to the societal, technological, and political changes that define our world. As we look to the future, it’s evident that several key factors will play pivotal roles in shaping the trajectory of public administration. These factors encompass the shifting landscape of work, technological advancements, demographic transitions, and the heightened significance of sustainability and social equity. In this context, understanding the challenges that lie ahead is crucial for preparing public administration to meet the evolving needs of our communities, as this field plays a crucial role in the functioning of governments and is responsible for managing policies and programs that serve the public interest.
