President Donald J. Trump has announced the creation of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). This initiative aims to enhance American innovation and competitiveness in critical and emerging technologies.
The council will consist of up to 24 members, drawing from leading scientists and technologists across industry, academia, and government. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, along with the White House A.I. and Crypto Czar, will co-chair PCAST. Their role will be to provide advice and evidence-based recommendations to ensure that policies are informed by recent scientific discoveries and technological advancements.
"This council will champion bold investments in innovation, the elimination of bureaucratic barriers, and actions to help the United States remain the world’s premier hub for scientific and technological breakthroughs," stated President Trump.
A focus on results-driven excellence is central to this policy shift. According to Trump, "The United States must leverage its pioneering spirit to lead in transformative science and technology." He expressed concerns about ideological agendas that he believes have distorted truth, eroded public trust, undermined research integrity, stifled innovation, and weakened America's competitive edge.
PCAST aims to restore excellence by gathering top minds from academia, industry, and government. Their goal is to prioritize measurable results, foster innovation, and dismantle barriers hindering scientific progress.
Trump's first administration laid a foundation for technological leadership through national initiatives like the American AI Initiative and the National Quantum Initiative. These programs focused on research priorities, strategic investments, workforce development in transformative fields, regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies such as autonomous driving systems and biotechnology while ensuring safety alongside innovation.
"Accelerating groundbreaking research" was achieved through initiatives like the National AI Research Resource, spectrum auctions for 5G frequencies unlocking valuable innovations, alongside investments in supercomputing systems globally recognized for their leadership.