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The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is a department of the United States government, part of the Executive Office of the President (EOP), established by United States Congress on May 11, 1976, with a broad mandate to advise the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.

According to a Congressional Research Service report, scientific and technological matters that warrant the attention of the POTUS might include issues that "involve multiple agencies; have substantial budgetary, economic, national security, or foreign policy dimensions; are highly controversial (especially when science and technology intersect with values, ethics, and morality); or are highly visible to the public."

The director of this office is colloquially known as the President's Science Advisor. In January 2019, meteorologist Kelvin Droegemeier was confirmed to the position, after almost two years of the position being vacant.

Origin
Prior to the origin of OSTP in 1976, each POTUS received information and guidance about science and technology policy matters from a variety of sources, such as committees, advisory boards, and personal contacts.

Richard M. Nixon eliminated the President's Science Advisory Committee after his second Science Advisor, Edward E. David Jr., resigned in 1973, rather than appointing a replacement. The United States Congress then established the OSTP in 1976 with a broad mandate to advise the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The 1976 Act also authorizes OSTP to lead inter-agency efforts to develop and to implement sound science and technology policies and budgets and to work with the private sector, state and local governments, the science and higher education communities, and other nations toward this end.

1976 - Present
Under President Donald Trump, OSTP's staff dropped from 135 to 45 people. The OSTP director position remained vacant for over two years, the longest vacancy for the position since the office's founding. Kelvin Droegemeier, an atmospheric scientist who previously served as the vice president of research at the University of Oklahoma, was nominated for the position on August 1, 2018 and confirmed by the Senate on January 2, 2019. As of October 2020, President Trump has not appointed Droegemeier as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST), a position that does not require Senate confirmation but may grant additional privileges. Former Presidents Obama and Clinton appointed their respective OSTP Directors to additionally serve as APSTs, whereas Former President George W. Bush did not appoint an APST.

Michael Kratsios was nominated by President Trump to be the fourth Chief Technology Officer of the United States and Associate Director of OSTP in March 2019 and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2019. President Trump has also appointed three Principal Assistant Directors within OSTP.

Staff organization
According to statute OSTP. P.L 94-282, the OSTP Director is appointed by the President, and the appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. OSTP Directors are not members of the President's Cabinet.

In addition to an OSTP director, the President can also appoint up to four OSTP Associate Directors, subject to Senate confirmation. The President can also designate Principal Assistant Directors, who are not subject to Senate confirmation.

Other key positions vary among administrations and are not always published online.


 * Director for the Office of Science and Technology Policy: Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier
 * Chief Technology Officer of the United States: Michael Kratsios
 * Deputy Chief Technology Officer: Michael Kratsios