The Most Important White House Office Most Americans Have Never Heard Of

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has played a remarkably important role in America’s post-World War II history, yet few Americans are even aware that there is such a thing. In its current form, OSTP has been around since the Ford administration, but formalized science advice to the president started with FDR. Science Progress readers don’t need to be reminded that there is barely a single area of American life is untouched by smart science policy. In a report called “OSTP 2.0,” the Woodrow Wilson Center has published recommendations for reforms in the management of U.S. science policy.

The Bush administration has been criticized for downgrading the White House science advisor’s role and that of OSTP. Unlike previous administrations, the current science advisor, for example, does not sit in on cabinet meetings and the OSTP has been relegated to a location outside the White House complex. Further, there are only two associate directors, even though the office is authorized to have four.

In its report, the Wilson Center group makes a number of critical observations and recommendations. For example, they urge that the science advisor be appointed along with members of the president’s cabinet, that he or she participate in cabinet-level activities, that a full complement of associate directors be nominated for Senate approval, and that the main offices of the director and associate directors be in the Old Executive Office Building to enable them to interact with senior White House officials. Although the report does not direct these recommendations at the Bush administration, these actions would not be needed had it not been for the neglect of science advice by this White House. Similarly, the report finds that OSTP should be able to play a more active role in ensuring that government science and technology advisory committees have sufficient independence to ensure the integrity of interpretations of the relevant science. They also suggest that OSTP have its own communications staff to help the White House ensure the accuracy of administration statements.

Other constructive recommendations concern the OSTP’s relationship to other executive branch entities and nongovernmental organizations. A particularly timely suggestion recognizes the increased role of states in funding science by encouraging development of mechanisms to “engage with leaders at the regional and state levels.”

Tags: censoring science

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