Trump Science Advisor Outlines Science Vision

On May 19, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) hosted a conversation with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). A recording is available here. A discussion with NAS President Marcia McNutt followed Kratsios’ remarks.

Kratsios expressed strong opinions about the current state of the U.S. scientific enterprise, stating, “To empower America’s researchers to achieve groundbreaking discoveries and to reinvigorate our national science enterprise, we must scrutinize our existing approach and recommit ourselves to best practices.” He contended that despite “soaring” biomedical research budgets in recent years, “scientific progress has stalled,” and that “more money has not meant more scientific discovery.”

He also had strong words for DEI activities, stating, “DEI initiatives… degrade our scientific enterprise” and that “DEI represents an existential threat to the real diversity of thought that forms the foundation of the scientific community.” He justified the termination of thousands of federal grants by saying, “Spending more money on the wrong things is far worse than spending less money on the right things.” He expressed a similar sentiment when discussing increases in administrative burden.

Kratsios’ solution to the challenges confronting the scientific enterprise is to recommit to Gold Standard Science (see previous coverage), which is science that is reproducible, transparent, interdisciplinary, and unbiased.

A recording of the event is available on the National Academies website and a transcript of Kratsios’ speech is available on the White House website.