Trump Announces His Pick to Lead OSTP
President-elect Donald Trump has announced the return of key members of his previous technology policy team to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
Michael Kratsios, a technologist and former OSTP official, will be nominated as OSTP Director and Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. Kratsios served as OSTP's Chief Technology Officer under Trump and later became Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. More recently, he has been serving as managing director of Scale AI, an AI infrastructure company.
Computer scientist Lynne Parker, who previously led federal artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives at OSTP, will serve as counselor to Kratsios and Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Parker served as Deputy Chief Technology Officer and the inaugural Director of OSTP's National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office in the previous Trump Administration.
Kratsios and Parker will work with AI and cryptocurrency czar David Sacks, who will also chair PCAST. The team will be joined by entrepreneur and tech podcaster Sriram Krishnan as senior AI policy adviser. Trump's appointments signal a focus on AI in OSTP's agenda and highlight a preference for leaders with technology and innovation backgrounds over those from traditional academic research.
Kratsios' OSTP position requires Senate confirmation, while Sacks' and Parker's positions do not.
Government Funding Extended Until March
After several days of negotiations, lawmakers have passed a continuing resolution to extend government funding by 3 months, averting a shutdown. The Senate voted 85-11 to pass the funding bill just moments after the midnight deadline on December 20, shortly after the House passed the bill with a 366-34 vote.
The measure provides lawmakers additional time, until March 14, to finalize fiscal year 2025 funding under the incoming Republican-controlled government. It also includes $100 billion in disaster relief, a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, and $10 billion in economic aid for farmers.
The bill's passage ended a chaotic week in Congress that ensued after Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump helped kill an earlier bipartisan agreement. The final bill excluded Trump's main demand of a debt limit suspension.
U.S. and China Sign Narrower Science Agreement
The U.S. and China have signed a new bilateral agreement that determines how the nations will cooperate on science and technology research over the next five years. Narrower in scope, the agreement only covers collaboration on basic research and excludes critical and emerging technologies.
The updated agreement "sustains intellectual property protections, establishes new guardrails for implementing agencies to protect the safety and security of their researchers, and advances U.S. interests through newly established and strengthened provisions on transparency and data reciprocity." The full text has not been released.
The previous agreement expired in August 2023 amid strained U.S.-China relations. Some Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns over the renewal, calling for greater congressional oversight. Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chair of the House Select Committee on the CCP, argues that the extension restricts the incoming administration's options to renegotiate or terminate the deal.
Congress Passes Water Infrastructure Bill
The Senate passed the "Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act" with a 97-1 vote earlier this month, following House approval. The legislation could help address flooding and extreme weather, improve navigation, and restore wetlands.
S. 4367, now headed to President Biden, authorizes over a dozen new Army Corps of Engineers projects, including a $2.1 billion Everglades restoration plan and initiatives to address flooding, extreme weather, and navigation improvements. It also directs the agency to study over 200 future projects and implement policy changes to improve efficiency.
The bill emphasizes natural and nature-based solutions for flooding, gaining support from environmental groups. It includes economic assistance for communities affected by coal industry decline and revisions to major projects like New York City's flood protection project.
Historically enacted every two years, this year's bill honors retiring Senator Tom Carper (D-DE).
EPA Shares Health-Based Recommendations for PFAS Levels in Water
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued draft health-based recommendations for three major per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water bodies, aiming to address these pollutants that have impacted millions of Americans' tap water.
The new guidelines set acceptable PFAS levels in rivers, streams, and lakes to protect human health and could help states regulate sources like plastic manufacturers and sewage plants once finalized.
The recommendations focus on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), chemicals linked to cancer and immune suppression. PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," used in products like firefighting foam and cosmetics, are highly persistent and accumulate in the human body.
Public health advocates have been urging quicker action on this matter, including finalizing legal limits on PFAS discharges into water bodies, though the policy's future under the incoming Trump Administration remains uncertain.
EPA is accepting written comments on the draft human health criteria until February 24, 2025.
NASEM Report Addresses Misinformation About Science
Misinformation about science is a widespread issue that arises both intentionally and inadvertently, posing harm at individual, community, and societal levels, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
The Academies' convened an expert panel to characterize the nature, scope, and impacts of misinformation about science, and provide guidance on interventions, policies, and future research. Some findings include:
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Misinformation spreads easily in today's information ecosystem due to factors like online platforms, limited moderation, and shrinking local journalism. Misinformation often originates from diverse sources, including media, institutions, and individuals, and could be amplified by authoritative sources or organized efforts.
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High-quality science information is essential to counter misinformation, especially during crises. While trust in science remains relatively high, misinformation exploits this trust, distorting public opinion and decision-making.
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Effective interventions include improving access to reliable science information, educating individuals about misinformation tactics, and enhancing journalistic capacity for accurate science reporting. Structural solutions, such as an independent, non-partisan consortium to curate and promote trustworthy science information, are also recommended.
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Gaps in research, particularly on non-politicized topics and marginalized communities, highlight the need for further study and collaborative efforts to reduce the spread and impact of misinformation about science.
Read the report.
Participate in the 2024 AIBS Congressional Visits Day
Join the American Institute of Biological Sciences on April 28-30, 2025 for our annual Congressional Visits Day in Washington, DC.
Meet with your members of Congress to help them understand the important role the federal government plays in supporting the biological sciences. Advocate for federal investments in biological sciences research supported by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
Participants will complete a communications and advocacy training program provided by AIBS that prepares them to be effective advocates for their science. AIBS will provide participants with background information and materials, as well as arrange meetings with lawmakers on April 30.
Who should participate?
Scientists, graduate students, educators, or other science community members who are interested in advocating for scientific research and education are encouraged to participate in this important event.
The ideal participant will:
- Have an interest in science policy.
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Work in a scientific profession or be enrolled in graduate school.
- Be able to speak about the importance of biological research funded by federal agencies (e.g. NSF, NIH, USDA).
- Provide compelling examples from their own experiences.
Training
The event includes a free, half-day training session on how to be an effective advocate for science policy. This training session will be held on April 29, 2025 and is mandatory for everyone who will be participating in congressional meetings.
Additionally, participants have the option to attend the highly acclaimed AIBS Communications Boot Camp for Scientists. This training course will be held in Washington, DC on April 28-29, 2025. This professional development program provides practical instruction and interactive exercises designed to help scientists (e.g. researchers, graduate students, administrators, educators) translate scientific information for non-technical audiences and to effectively engage with decision-makers and the news media. All participants who complete this optional training will receive priority access to the Congressional Visits Day and a certificate of completion indicating that they have successfully completed 16 hours of communications training. Click here for more information, including cost, for this two-day training program.
Registration
Express your interest in participating in the event by registering. Registration closes on March 3, 2025. Space is limited and we encourage you to register early. If registrations exceed program capacity, AIBS may prioritize registrants based on participation in the boot camp training, geographic diversity, and other factors. Register now.
Apply for the IDEA2 Public Policy Fellowship
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) are jointly offering a paid Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Accepting, and Accessible (IDEA2) Public Policy Fellowship in the spring-summer of 2025 for current and recent graduate students in the life sciences or a closely related field.
This unique training opportunity provides young scientists with valuable first-hand experience in science policy. The Fellow will have the opportunity to work on a range of science policy projects that could include planning a Capitol Hill science policy briefing, preparing science policy documents, conducting research on science and science education policy initiatives, and attending Congressional and executive branch meetings. The Fellow will work closely with AIBS and SURA policy staff to gain practical experience with science policy and advocacy efforts that inform federal decision-making.
Applicant must be a current graduate (M.S. or Ph.D.) student or within two years of completing a graduate degree in the life sciences or a closely related field, who has a strong interest in science policy. The Fellow will have the option to choose between a 10-week remote or a month-long in-person engagement in the spring-summer of 2025. The Fellow will receive a minimum stipend of $3,000, contingent on active participation, with additional support available for in-person participation. Travel expenses will also be covered.
Applications are due no later than 05:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, January 24, 2025. Learn more about the opportunity and how to apply: https://io.aibs.org/idea2fellow
Call for Applications: 2025 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award
Are you a science graduate student looking to make a difference in science policy and funding? AIBS is now accepting applications for the 2025 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award. This award recognizes graduate students in the biological sciences who are demonstrating an interest and aptitude for working at the intersection of science and policy.
Recipients of the AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award receive:
- A trip to Washington, DC, to participate in the AIBS Congressional Visits Day, an annual event where scientists meet with lawmakers to advocate for federal investment in the biological sciences, with a primary focus on the National Science Foundation. The event will be held on April 28-30, 2025. Domestic travel and hotel expenses are paid for the winners.
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Policy and communications training, including information on the legislative process, trends in federal science funding, and how to engage with policymakers and the news media.
- Meetings with congressional policymakers to discuss the importance of federal investment in the biological sciences.
- A one-year online subscription to the journal BioScience.
The 2025 award is open to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents enrolled in a graduate degree program in the biological sciences, science education, or a closely allied field. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to science policy and/or science education policy. Prior recipients are not eligible for the award.
Applications are due by 05:00 PM Eastern Time on January 15, 2025. Learn more.
Short Takes
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The bald eagle, long a symbol of U.S. independence and strength, is set to officially become the United States' national bird after Congress passed a bipartisan bill (S. 4610), sponsored by Minnesota lawmakers Representatives Brad Finstad (R) and Angie Craig (D), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D). Although widely associated with American iconography and featured on the national seal since 1782, the bald eagle has not previously held an official designation as the national bird. The bald eagle will join other official symbols like the national mammal bison, the national flower rose, and the national tree oak after the bill is signed by President Biden.
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The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation are offering up to $16 million in funding for conservation projects through the Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice (PACSP) program. Now in its third year, PACSP supports collaborations between basic science researchers and on-the-ground conservationists to address biodiversity loss. Since 2023, it has funded 16 projects with $24 million, focusing on species such as desert tortoises, grizzly bears, and Hawaiian honeycreepers. Application deadline is March 3, 2025. An upcoming NSF virtual office hour, on January 13 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET, will focus on the PACSP opportunity.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from December 16 to 27, 2024.
Commerce
Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Health and Human Services
Interior
National Science Foundation
