There's only two possibilities: either a given function is discarded, or it's reassigned.
Which did Rick Perry want to do? Well, given that he didn't know what those functions were, I don't see how he possibly could have had any actual plan for reassigning them.
Wanting to abolish the DoE could be sensible if done with thought. But wanting to abolish it while also not having a clue about what it does is just crazypants.
“In fact, after being briefed on so many of the vital functions of the Department of Energy, I regret recommending its elimination.” - Actual quote by the current head of the DoE.
I should have been more clear that I was responding to the statement that the idea itself was "ridiculous" and not to Rick Perry's inability to speak coherently about the idea.
The statement was that “this” was ridiculous, where “this” was Perry wanting to abolish a really important agency without having a clue about what it actually does.
Which did Rick Perry want to do? Well, given that he didn't know what those functions were, I don't see how he possibly could have had any actual plan for reassigning them.
Wanting to abolish the DoE could be sensible if done with thought. But wanting to abolish it while also not having a clue about what it does is just crazypants.
“In fact, after being briefed on so many of the vital functions of the Department of Energy, I regret recommending its elimination.” - Actual quote by the current head of the DoE.