2. Executive Office of the President · Minor
Raise the prominence of the OSTP Director
Printed page 59 2. Executive Office of the President
“If science is being manipulated at the agencies to support separate political and institutional agendas, the President should increase the prominence of the OSTP's Director either formally or informally.”
What has happened
- Done
The OSTP Director's rank was raised formally. EO 14177, signed 23 January 2025, re-established the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology around an "Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST)" and contemplated the same person holding both jobs: "if also serving as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the APST may designate the U.S. Chief Technology Officer as a member." That is what happened. Michael Kratsios, confirmed as OSTP Director on 25 March 2025, signed the FY2027 research priorities memorandum in September 2025 as "Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy"; he signed the FY2028 memorandum in July 2026 as "Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy" — and signed first, ahead of the OMB Director, having signed second the year before.
Research log
What was searched, and what didn’t count as evidence
Research notes
The Quote is conditional (“if science is being manipulated at the agencies”) and allows the elevation to be formal or informal; the formal route was taken. The evidence for the elevation is the signature block, read from both memoranda: M-25-34 (23 September 2025) has “MICHAEL J. KRATSIOS, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY” below Vought’s; M-26-16 (21 July 2026) has “MICHAEL J. KRATSIOS, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY” above Vought’s.
- Action
- expand
- Object
- Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
- ID
- 78