Cabinet-level Council Presents Strategic Plans for Science & Technology

One of the initiatives announced by President Clinton early in his presidency, but only now underway, is an “across-the-board review of federal spending on research and development.” This review is being conducted by nine committees of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), a cabinet-level council chaired by President Clinton. The purpose of the Council is to integrate the Administration’s science and technology (S&T) policy across the federal government. It has been described by Administration officials as a “virtual department of science.”

The thrust of the review effort is to examine the federal S&T portfolio in light of current budget constraints and global competition, and determine how to achieve the most effective and efficient policies for each area of investment. The separate areas being examined are: Fundamental Science; International Science, Engineering, and Technology; Health, Safety and Food; Environment and Natural Resources; Education and Training; Information and Communication; Civilian Industrial Technology; Transportation R&D; and National Security.

The nine committees have each prepared a strategic planning document. In his transmittal letter with the plans, Presidential Science Advisor John Gibbons states that the documents “provide a new and unique vehicle for discussing the appropriate focus of federal research efforts as well as planning for future endeavors.” He cautions, however, that “these Plans are not an end unto themselves, but rather a means to achieve national goals.”

For example, the Committee on Fundamental Science (CFS) 18-page plan describes the committee’s role as “establishing a government-wide mission for and approach to fundamental science; and developing a cross-agency strategy for dealing with foundational issues that affect the broad research and development enterprise,... within the context of agency missions and broad administration priorities.” Noting that it is no longer efficient for federal agencies to set their priorities independently, the Committee “is committed to providing” the framework and rationale for priority decision-making among research programs. The strategic plans can be obtained via the OSTP World Wide Web Home Page at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/OSTP.html

In countering the quest of some Republicans for a Department of Science, the Administration has claimed that the NSTC represents a “virtual department” that can coordinate federal S&T efforts without changing the existing agency structure. Given the traditional difficulties of inter-governmental coordination, and the early stage of NSTC efforts, it remains to be seen how successful this argument will be.