Reagan steps up plans to end energy agency

President Reagan will go ahead with plans to dismantle the Department of Energy established by Jimmy Carter, the White House confirmed. Deputy Press Secretary Larry Speakes told reporters the administration will submit legislation to Congress soon to distribute the Energy Department's functions throughout the government, Mr. Speakes said.

During his election campaign, Mr. Reagan had called the department wasteful and inefficient and promised to abolish it.

Under the proposal, most functions would be transferred to a semiautonomous agency within the Commerce Department to be called the Energy Research and Technology Administration.