White House Releases Priorities for Research and Development

Earlier this month, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda D. Young sent a memo to heads of executive branch departments and agencies outlining the Biden-Harris Administration’s 2025 research and development (R&D) priorities. This annual memo helps guide agency budget submissions to OMB.

FABBS would like to address that many of these priorities directly address a need for behavioral sciences, offering opportunities to conduct research on the societal and behavioral aspects of these policies and investments.

The memo encourages R&D goals that advance the administration’s goal of fostering trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) to improve government function and public services. The memo discusses the importance of mitigating cybersecurity risks, understanding the social and behavioral aspects of security, and addressing the national security impacts of autonomous systems and AI. Other key priorities include combatting the climate crisis, achieving better health outcomes, and reducing barriers and inequities, which can all incorporate FABBS disciplines.

FY2025-OMB-OSTP-RD-Budget-Priorities-Memo.pdf (whitehouse.gov)

White House