FAS Statement on Michael Kratsios’ OSTP Hearing
Yesterday, Michael Kratsios, the president’s nominee to be director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), repeatedly stressed his belief in the importance of continuing the United States’ historic leadership in science and technological innovation, and the goal of “ensuring that all Americans benefit from scientific and technological advances.”
Mr. Kratsios’ words, along with his track record and OSTP experience as U.S. Chief Technology Officer, offer encouragement that our community can continue to work constructively with him and the important office he would lead.
With so much at stake, we cannot afford to cede science and technological leadership or its underpinnings: foundational federal R&D investments, growing STEM talent pipelines, and the best scientific and technical expertise to support policymakers. Commitment to these things are the basis for a healthy and thriving society.
To secure the U.S. bio-infrastructure, maintain global leadership in biotechnology, and safeguard American citizens from emerging threats to their privacy, the federal government must modernize its approach to human genetic and biological data.
To ensure an energy transition that brings broad based economic development, participation, and direct benefits to communities, we need federal policy that helps shape markets. Unfortunately, there is a large gap in understanding of how to leverage federal policy making to support access to capital and credit.
From use to testing to deployment, the scaffolding for responsible integration of AI into high-risk use cases is just not there.
OPM’s new HR 2.0 initiative is entering hostile terrain. Those who have followed federal HR modernization for years desperately want this effort to succeed.