<>
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released a policy document titled “Science: A New Golden Age” on Tuesday, arguing that federal research operations require significant structural updates under the administration.
Origins and Comparisons to Post-WWII Policy
The report presents itself as a spiritual successor to “Science, the Endless Frontier,” a foundational 1945 policy document written by Vannevar Bush that established the modern framework for government-funded scientific research in the United States. According to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, while the core concepts promoted by the original post-World War II text remain vital, modern circumstances demand major revisions to how the federal government implements scientific strategy.
Policy Priorities and Silicon Valley Influence
The newly published text combines critiques of existing federal research models with perspectives derived from the technology sector. Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy who previously worked with Peter Thiel, helped shape the document’s integration of Silicon Valley innovation philosophies into federal science administration.
Reception and Expected Impact
Independent analysts suggest the document is unlikely to achieve the historical influence of its 1945 predecessor.