On Thursday, the Trump administration shared its vision for the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Originally set up under George W. Bush, this advisory panel aims to enhance scientific and technological progress while removing obstacles caused by bureaucracy.
President Trump’s executive order outlines a new direction for PCAST. This version will focus on achieving excellence and rewarding merit in science and technology. The goal is to make policies that are straightforward and results-oriented.
The administration’s fact sheet expresses a concern that “scientific truth” is at risk from agendas that favor group identity over individual merit. It states that this problem stifles creativity and brings political influence into scientific discussions.
To combat these issues, PCAST will bring together top experts from academia, industry, and government. They will focus on creating measurable outcomes, encouraging innovation, and breaking down barriers to research.
In the previous Trump administration, Kelvin Droegemier, who led the Office of Science and Technology Policy, emphasized that diverse expertise from leaders in various fields would strengthen national innovation.
For its current iteration, PCAST will include up to 24 members and will be led by the assistant to the president for science and technology, along with an AI and crypto czar. Members will come from outside the federal government and must offer a range of perspectives in science, technology, and education.
Unlike the past PCAST, which had 26 members, this new panel features interesting changes. Notably, the previous administration included the science adviser as a co-chair and permitted additional non-federal co-chairs. In the current setup, two vice chairs will be selected from non-federal members to assist in leadership.
Under the Biden administration, PCAST advised on several important issues, including environmental science, education, and racial equity. The last PCAST even recommended steps to improve the STEM talent pool within the government.
In Trump’s renewed version of PCAST, the focus is on advising the president on policies related to the economy, national security, and workforce issues. The goal is to ensure that America maintains its technological leadership, especially concerning national security.
The executive order highlights that current ideological pressures can distort truth and damage public trust in science. The administration believes these influences hinder innovation and weaken America’s standing in the global tech arena.
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