President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Michael Kratsios to serve as Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. This nomination follows Kratsios’ previous role, during the first Trump administration as U.S. Chief Technology Officer (CTO), where he worked to advance policies around artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and other emerging technologies. Given his background in technology policy, Kratsios is expected to focus on AI and innovation during his tenure.
Kratsios’ nomination marks a change in leadership at OSTP. He will succeed Dr. Arati Prabhakar, who was confirmed as the OSTP Director in October 2022 under President Joe Biden. Dr. Prabhakar, a physicist and engineer, also served as Biden’s Chief Advisor for Science and Technology and co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Under her leadership, OSTP introduced the Blueprint for the Use of Social and Behavioral Science to Advance Evidence-Based Policymaking an effort to integrate social and behavioral science into policymaking processes to support evidence-based governance. Last Friday, the Biden administration’s PCAST held a key meeting to review the report Harnessing Social and Behavioral Science Insights to Enhance Policymaking and Improve the Lives of the American People (stay tuned for our next newsletter). The Biden OSTP also included the role of Assistant Director for Science and Society, held by Dr. Alondra Nelson, which focused on ensuring that science and technology policies promote public trust, equity, and societal well-being. The OSTP Director requires Senate confirmation.
Trump has appointed Dr. Lynne Parker as the Executive Director of PCAST and counselor to the OSTP Director. Dr. Parker is a computer scientist and technology policy expert who has spent more than two decades working in both academia and government. She previously served as the Deputy Director of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office (NAIIO) during Trump’s first administration. Prior to her government roles, she was a senior administrator and faculty member at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she led research and educational efforts in the field of AI and machine learning. Dr. Parker’s appointment further signals the Trump administration’s commitment to prioritizing AI and other technological advancements. She does not need Senate confirmation for her appointment.
