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Office of Science and Technology Policy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from OSTP)

Office of Science and Technology Policy
Agency overview
FormedMay 11, 1976; 50 years ago (1976-05-11)
Headquarters
Employees150
Agency executive
Parent agency
Executive Office of the President
WebsiteWhiteHouse.gov/OSTP

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is a division of the White House Executive Office of the President (EOP), established by United States Congress on May 11, 1976, with the mandate to advise the president on science and technology on domestic and international affairs.

The OSTP director is colloquially known as the "science advisor to the president," and this role was elevated to a Cabinet position by President Joe Biden (Eric Lander was the first to hold this dual role).[1]

History

[edit]

20th century

[edit]
President Ford signing H.R. 10230, establishing the Office of Science and Technology Policy

President Richard M. Nixon eliminated the President's Science Advisory Committee after his second Science Advisor, Edward E. David Jr., resigned in 1973, rather than appointing a replacement. In 1975, the American Physical Society president Chien-Shiung Wu met with the new president Gerald Ford to discuss efforts to reinstate a scientific body of advisors for the executive branch and the president. President Ford supported the effort.[2] The United States Congress then established the OSTP in 1976 with a broad mandate to advise the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The 1976 Act also authorizes OSTP to lead inter-agency efforts to develop and to implement sound science and technology policies and budgets and to work with the private sector, state and local governments, the science and higher education communities, and other nations toward this end.

21st century

[edit]

Second Obama Administration

[edit]

On 17 October 2014 the OSTP halted funding for gain of function research (GOFR).[3][4]

First Trump administration

[edit]

Under President Donald Trump, OSTP's staff dropped from 135 to 45 people by November 2017.[5] In December 2017 the OSTP ban on GOFR was replaced by an expert-driven “US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) framework for guiding funding decisions about proposed research involving pathogens that have enhanced potential for creating pandemics.”[6]

The OSTP director position remained vacant for over two years, the longest vacancy for the position since the office's founding.[7][8][9] Kelvin Droegemeier, an atmospheric scientist who previously served as the vice president of research at the University of Oklahoma, was nominated for the position on August 1, 2018[10] and confirmed by the Senate on January 2, 2019.

Michael Kratsios was nominated by President Trump to be the fourth Chief Technology Officer of the United States and associate director of OSTP in March 2019[11] and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2019.[12] During Trump's tenure, Droegemeier also managed the National Science and Technology Council.

Biden administration

[edit]

President Joe Biden named, and the Senate later unanimously confirmed,[13] Eric Lander as head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, while also upgrading the position to a cabinet-level post.[14] Lander resigned in February 2022 following reports that engaged in abusive conduct against both subordinates and other White House officials.[15]

  • In 2022, OSTP held a roundtable discussion with some of the nation’s leading scientists to discuss the need to combat the climate crisis and counter arguments for delaying climate action. It is the first time that the White House has recognized scientists who study the climate denial operation run by the fossil fuel industry.[16]
  • On August 25, 2022, OSTP issued guidance to make all federally funded research in the United States freely available without delay.[17][18]

Directors

[edit]

Michael Kratsios is the current Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, appointed by the Trump Administration on March 25, 2025.[19][20]

During the Biden Administration, the OSTP Director role was elevated to the cabinet.[21]

Mathematician and geneticist Eric Lander was sworn in as Director on June 2, 2021,[22] and later resigned on February 18, 2022, following allegations of misconduct.[23] In February 2022, deputy director Alondra Nelson was appointed acting director, while former National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Francis Collins would serve as acting science advisor. Both assumed positions on February 18, 2022. In October 2022, Arati Prabhakar became Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.[24][25]

List of OSTP directors.[26]

  Denotes acting capacity.
No. Image Name Start End Ref. President
1 Guyford Stever August 9, 1976 January 20, 1977 Gerald Ford
(1974–1977)
2 Frank Press January 20, 1977 January 20, 1981 Jimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
– Benjamin Huberman
Acting		 March 5, 1981 August 1981 Ronald Reagan
(1981–1989)
3 Jay Keyworth August 1981 December 1985
– John McTague
Acting		 January 1986 May 23, 1986
– Richard Johnson
Acting		 May 24, 1986 October 1, 1986
4 William Graham October 2, 1986 June 1989
– Thomas Rona
Acting		 June 1989 August 1989 George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
– William Wells
Acting		 August 1989 August 1989
5 Allan Bromley August 1989 January 20, 1993
6 Jack Gibbons January 20, 1993 April 3, 1998 Bill Clinton
(1993–2001)
– Kerri-Ann Jones
Acting		 April 4, 1998 August 3, 1998
7 Neal Lane August 4, 1998 January 20, 2001
– Rosina Bierbaum
Acting		 January 21, 2001 September 30, 2001 George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
– Clifford Gabriel
Acting		 October 1, 2001 October 28, 2001
8 Jack Marburger October 29, 2001 January 20, 2009
– Ted Wackler
Acting		 January 20, 2009 March 19, 2009 Barack Obama
(2009–2017)
9 John Holdren March 19, 2009 January 20, 2017 [27]
– Ted Wackler
Acting		 January 20, 2017 January 11, 2019 [28] Donald Trump
(2017–2021)
10 Kelvin Droegemeier January 11, 2019 January 20, 2021 [29]
– Kei Koizumi
Acting		 January 20, 2021 June 2, 2021 Joe Biden
(2021–2025)
11 Eric Lander June 2, 2021 February 18, 2022 [30][31]
– Alondra Nelson
Acting		 February 18, 2022 October 3, 2022 [32]
12 Arati Prabhakar October 3, 2022 January 20, 2025 [25]
– Michael Kratsios January 20, 2025 March 25, 2025 [33] Donald Trump
(2025–present)
13 March 25, 2025 present [34]

OSTP Deputy Directors / Deputy "National Science Advisor to the President"

[edit]

Key executive positions have varied among administrations.[35] These executives manage OSTP divisions and are Deputies to the Director / National Science Advisor.

Biden administration (2021-2024)

The Biden-era OSTP relied on Deputy Directors to lead each OSTP division,[36] which was seen as an expansion or "elevation" of the national role of science and technology by President Biden after elevating the office to the Cabinet level following the COVID-19 Pandemic.[37][38][39]

  • Climate and Environment[40] - Deputy Director for Climate and Environment: Jane Lubchenco, former NOAA Administrator[41]
  • Energy/Industrial Innovation[42] - Deputy Director for Energy and Chief Strategist for the Energy Transition: Sally Benson; division renamed - Deputy Director for Industrial Innovation: Justina Gallegos[43]
  • Health Outcomes[44] - Deputy Director of Health Sciences: Carrie Wolinetz; Deputy Assistant to the President for Cancer Moonshot and Deputy Director for Health Outcomes: Danielle Carnival
  • National Security[45] - Deputy Director for National Security and Coordinator for Technology and National Security of the National Security Council: Jason Matheny; Deputy Director for National Security and Special Assistant to the President: Stephen Welby[46]
  • Science and Society[47] - Principal Deputy Director for Science and Society and Deputy Assistant to the President: Alondra Nelson (performed the duties of the Director from February to October 2022, when she became the first African American and first woman of color to lead OSTP). Danny Goroff served as deputy director in 2023, and Kei Koizumi served as Deputy of this team in 2024.
  • Technology[48] - Deputy Director for Technology and Principal Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer: Alexander Macgilivray; Dierdre Mulligan;[49] and Karen Kornbluh[50]
Obama administration (2008-2016)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Biden Names Science Team; Eric Lander as Science Advisor; Elevates Position to Cabinet-level". CRN. February 2, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  2. ↑ Chiang, Tsai-Chien (January 2013). Madame Wu Chien-shiung: The First Lady Of Physics Research. World Scientific. pp. 184–185. ISBN 9789814579131.
  3. ↑ https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/dual-use-research/news-scan-oct-17-2014
  4. ↑ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aad8849
  5. ↑ Alemany, Jacqueline (November 21, 2017). "Donald Trump's science office is a ghost town". CBS.
  6. ↑ https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/dual-use-research/feds-lift-gain-function-research-pause-offer-guidance
  7. ↑ Morello, Lauren (October 24, 2017). "Wait for Trump's science adviser breaks modern-era record". Nature. doi:10.1038/nature.2017.22878.
  8. ↑ Aldhouse, Peter (January 18, 2017). "Trump's war on science isn't what you think". CBS.
  9. ↑ Reardon, Sara; Witze, Alexandra (July 31, 2018). "The wait is over: Trump taps meteorologist as White House science adviser". Nature. 560 (7717): 150–151. Bibcode:2018Natur.560..150R. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-05862-y. PMID 30087470.
  10. ↑ Irfan, Umair (August 1, 2018). "Trump finally picked a science adviser. He's a meteorologist. Named Kelvin". Vox.
  11. ↑ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to a Key Administration Post". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved August 5, 2019 – via National Archives.
  12. ↑ Chappellet-Lanier, Tajha (August 1, 2019). "Michael Kratsios confirmed as US CTO". Fedscoop. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Eric Lander Confirmed for Top White House Science Post | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Biden elevates science post to level". msn.com. Yahoo News. AFP. January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  15. ↑ "White House science adviser resigns after probe found he bullied staffers". February 7, 2022.
  16. ↑ Joselow, Maxine (February 24, 2022). "White House science office to hold first event on countering climate change denial and delay". The Washington Post.
  17. ↑ "OSTP Issues Guidance to Make Federally Funded Research Freely Available Without Delay | OSTP". The White House. August 25, 2022.
  18. ↑ Patel, Vimal (August 26, 2022). "White House Pushes Journals to Drop Paywalls on Publicly Funded Research". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  19. ↑ Alder, Madison (March 25, 2025). "Senate confirms Michael Kratsios to lead White House science, technology office". Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  20. ↑ "President-Elect Trump Names OSTP Director and Other High Level Science & Tech Policy Staff". CRN. January 2, 2025. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Biden taps Eric Lander and Maria Zuber for senior science posts". MIT EAPS. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  22. ↑ "White House science advisor Eric Lander sworn in on Pirkei Avot published in 1492". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  23. ↑ Thompson, Alex. "'I am deeply sorry for my conduct': Biden's top science adviser apologizes to staff". POLITICO. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  24. ↑ "White House unveils 'AI bill of rights' as 'call to action' to rein in tool". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  25. 1 2 "Senate Confirms Prabhakar to Lead White House Science Office". bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Previous Science Advisors (1973–2009)". whitehouse.gov – via National Archives.
  27. ↑ Norr, Melissa (March 20, 2009). "Holdren Confirmed as OSTP Director". Computing Research Association.
  28. ↑ Showstack, Randy (July 27, 2017). "Trump Administration Moving Closer to Picking Science Director". Eos. doi:10.1029/2017EO078569.
  29. ↑ Smith, Marcia (February 11, 2019). "Droegemeier Officially Sworn In As OSTP Director". SpacePolicyOnline.
  30. ↑ "OSTP Director Confirmed, Sworn In". University of Washington. June 3, 2021.
  31. ↑ Thomas, William (February 8, 2022). "Science Advisor Eric Lander Resigns in Disgrace". American Institute of Physics.
  32. ↑ Ward, Myah (February 16, 2022). "Biden names 2 people to replace Eric Lander in top science roles". Politico. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  33. ↑ Mosley, Brian (January 2, 2025). "President-Elect Trump Names OSTP Director and Other High Level Science & Tech Policy Staff". Computing Research Association.
  34. ↑ Alder, Madison (March 25, 2025). "Senate confirms Michael Kratsios to lead White House science, technology office". FedScoop.
  35. ↑ "Staff". whitehouse.gov – via National Archives.
  36. ↑ Vitale, Julia (March 4, 2021). "Eric Lander is the First Ever Cabinet Science Advisor - IJ". Interrogating Justice. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  37. ↑ Subbaraman, Nidhi (June 4, 2021). "First science adviser in US president's cabinet talks COVID, spying and more". Nature. 594 (7863): 311–311. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-01501-1.
  38. ↑ "FLC | Biden announces plan to elevate White House science office to Cabinet-level". federallabs.org. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  39. ↑ Subbaraman, Nidhi; Witze, Alexandra (January 16, 2021). "Joe Biden names top geneticist Eric Lander as science adviser". Nature. Nature Publishing Group. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00118-8.
  40. ↑ "Climate and Environment | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  41. ↑ Brugger, Kelsey (May 25, 2021). "Meet Biden's trailblazing climate science adviser". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Industrial Innovation | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Industrial Innovation | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Health Outcomes | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  45. ↑ "National Security | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  46. ↑ "National Security | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Science, Society, and Policy | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Technology | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Technology | OSTP". The White House. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  50. ↑ Egan, Lauren (July 30, 2024). "What if Harris cleans house?". Politico.
  51. ↑ "OSTP Leadership & Staff". The White House. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
[edit]
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