As President Trump takes office, he has the enormous undertaking of making thousands of political appointments across the federal government, including nearly 800 nominations requiring Senate confirmation. Among his top priorities should be to nominate a science adviser and to staff the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the single agency in the government responsible for the health of the entire federal science and technology (S&T) portfolio. OSTP is the sole voice in the White House focused on using and supporting scientific research, advancing the nation's technological capability, and advising the president on all policy issues as they relate to S&T. Here, we describe the vital role of OSTP and its policy councils and offer recommendations on selecting the president's science adviser and OSTP leadership. A strong OSTP will be critical for maintaining U.S. leadership in S&T and innovation (1).
President Trump will be faced with a large number of policy challenges, some of them requiring immediate S&T expertise, including emerging infectious diseases (such as Zika); chronic diseases affecting our aging population (such as cancer or heart disease); environmental concerns (such as clean water, air quality, and the impacts of climate change); and security threats to Americans (including terrorism, cyberattacks, and natural disasters). These issues often require coordination across federal agencies and departments—which is the role of OSTP. Without access to expert knowledge of S&T and innovation, opportunities will be missed and progress will be slow, at best.
OSTP, established by Congress in 1976, is led by the president's science adviser, an informal title referring to two appointments: Director of OSTP and Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST)—a title first assigned to the science adviser by President George H. W. Bush in 1989—who is a member of the president's senior staff (2). The science adviser, considered the authoritative source on S&T matters in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), serves as the president's public face for S&T, nationally and globally, to ensure that the public, Congress, and foreign leaders understand the U.S. perspective on S&T challenges. The position balances providing the president with confidential advice on S&T and innovation with avoiding the appearance of acting on behalf of special interests of the S&T community (3).
Read the full article in Science.
