This presidential election cycle has seen a storm of controversies and campaign promises from both major party candidates. While science and technology (S&T) policy is unlikely to make headlines in the two weeks leading up to the election, it is central to wide range of ongoing public policy challenges the new administration will need to address immediately after taking office. Issues such as cybersecurity, climate change, innovation policy and emerging infectious diseases, among others, will require timely S&T advice and a robust national policy to support efforts across many different federal agencies. To address these challenges, it is vital the next administration move quickly to build its S&T advisory and operational infrastructure within the White House and throughout the federal research agencies.
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), a small agency in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), is responsible for ensuring the president, and others in the executive branch, have access the most current and objective S&T information. OSTP also coordinates multi-agency research and development (R&D) programs and works closely with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to set the president’s annual budget for R&D across all federal agencies. It is the only place in the government that assesses the entire federal S&T portfolio and will therefore be essential for maintaining the health of the U.S. S&T infrastructure during the transition process. OSTP is led by a Senate-confirmed director who, in most recent administrations, has also served as assistant the president for science and technology. This individual, informally called the president’s science advisor, provides the president with confidential, unbiased advice on all matters related to S&T.
The Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program outlines early steps for the president and the science advisor to address this challenge in a new report, “The Vital Role of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in the New Administration.” The publication guides the new administration in setting up and staffing the new OSTP. While much of the existing infrastructure for White House S&T policy should be maintained, there are also several recommendations for possible improvements to the office. Moreover, the report serves to reminder to both campaigns of the role of S&T in enabling federal R&D activities throughout the government and informing policy decisions in the executive branch.
One major recommendation in the report is the early appointment of the science advisor, which is absolutely critical for guiding transition teams that oversee S&T activities and existing R&D programs; advising the president on relevant appointments throughout the federal government; and establishing working relationships between the White House, federal research agencies, and the Congress. Ideally, each party’s transition team is currently putting together short lists of potential candidates for this position, and will appoint an assistant to the president for science and technology quickly after the election alongside other senior advisors to the president and Cabinet secretaries.
S&T policy will probably not be a high-priority issue in the coming weeks. However, it is linked to other areas of national importance, including the economy, defense and improving the nation’s health. Coordinating the federal R&D effort to address these policy challenges are a major part of OSTP’s role as a leader and convener of S&T policy bodies inside and outside the government. An effective OSTP will be essential for ensuring the next president’s policy priorities are informed by the most up-to-date and objective scientific knowledge and that the nation’s investments in S&T programs continue in the new administration.
Kenneth Evans, Ph.D., is a Baker Institute postdoctoral fellow in science and technology policy.