The 1976 law that created the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) lets presidents tailor the office to fit their priorities. Under former President Barack Obama, OSTP grew to a record size and played a role in all the administration’s numerous science and technology initiatives. In contrast, President Donald Trump has all but ignored OSTP during his first 6 months in office, keeping it small and excluding it from even a cursory role in formulating science-related policies and spending plans.
OSTP is not alone across the government in awaiting a new crop of key managers. But such leadership voids can be paralyzing for a small shop. Trump has yet to nominate an OSTP director, who traditionally also serves as the president’s science adviser. Nor has he announced his choices for as many as four other senior OSTP officials who would need to be confirmed by the Senate. An administration official, however, told Science that OSTP has reshuffled its work flow—and that there’s a short list for the director’s position.
That nominee would replace physicist John Holdren, who led OSTP for the entirety of the Obama administration. Under Holdren, the office had four divisions—science, environment and energy, national security and international affairs, and technology and innovation. OSTP also housed an Office of the Chief Technology Officer, created in 2009 to beef up the White House’s digital capabilities. At its peak, Obama’s OSTP had 135 people, Holdren says, two-thirds of them on loan from other agencies and outside institutions. That number had plummeted to 30 by Trump’s inauguration, as those detailees returned home.
OSTP is not alone across the government in awaiting a new crop of key managers. But such leadership voids can be paralyzing for a small shop. Trump has yet to nominate an OSTP director, who traditionally also serves as the president’s science adviser. Nor has he announced his choices for as many as four other senior OSTP officials who would need to be confirmed by the Senate. An administration official, however, told Science that OSTP has reshuffled its work flow—and that there’s a short list for the director’s position.
That nominee would replace physicist John Holdren, who led OSTP for the entirety of the Obama administration. Under Holdren, the office had four divisions—science, environment and energy, national security and international affairs, and technology and innovation. OSTP also housed an Office of the Chief Technology Officer, created in 2009 to beef up the White House’s digital capabilities. At its peak, Obama’s OSTP had 135 people, Holdren says, two-thirds of them on loan from other agencies and outside institutions. That number had plummeted to 30 by Trump’s inauguration, as those detailees returned home.
For More Information: Jeffrey Mervis
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