National Science and Technology Council

On November 23, 1993, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) was established by Executive Order 12881 to coordinate science and technology policy across the federal government. According to the executive order, NSTC is to coordinate the S&T policy-making process; ensure science and technology policy decisions and programs are consistent with the President’s stated goals; help integrate the President’s S&T policy agenda across the federal government; ensure S&T is considered in the development and implementation of federal policies and programs; and further international S&T cooperation.

In contrast to its predecessor, the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET), which was chaired by the OSTP Director, the NSTC is chaired by the President. Many of the NSTC members are cabinet officials. In practice, the NSTC has rarely had a meeting with the President or cabinet-level officials present. Rather, OSTP staff and detailees manage NSTC activities in conjunction with federal agency staff. Currently, the NSTC has four primary committees: Science; Technology; Environment and Natural Resources; and Homeland and National Security. Each NSTC committee has subcommittees, interagency working groups, or taskforces focused on specialized topics. The membership of these committees and subcommittees are generally not cabinet officials, but instead lower ranking staff.




 * Source: National Science and Technology Council website..
 * Note: SC = subcommittee; IWG = interagency working group; TF = task force.