```

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 20 (Friday, January 31, 2025)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 8643-8645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02121]



                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 90 , No. 20 / Friday, January 31, 2025 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 8643]]

                Executive Order 14177 of January 23, 2025

                
President's Council of Advisors on Science and 
                Technology

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, and in order to establish an advisory council 
                on science and technology, it is hereby ordered:

                Section 1. Purpose. The American story is one of 
                boundless creativity and bold ambition, driven by an 
                indomitable pioneering spirit that propels exploration 
                and discovery. It is this spirit that illuminated the 
                world with Edison's lightbulb, carried the Wright 
                brothers into the skies, and sent Armstrong to the 
                moon. Today, a new frontier of scientific discovery 
                lies before us, defined by transformative technologies 
                such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 
                advanced biotechnology. Breakthroughs in these fields 
                have the potential to reshape the global balance of 
                power, spark entirely new industries, and revolutionize 
                the way we live and work. As our global competitors 
                race to exploit these technologies, it is a national 
                security imperative for the United States to achieve 
                and maintain unquestioned and unchallenged global 
                technological dominance. To secure our future, we must 
                harness the full power of American innovation by 
                empowering entrepreneurs, unleashing private-sector 
                creativity, and reinvigorating our research 
                institutions.

                At the heart of scientific progress lies the pursuit of 
                truth. But this foundational principle, which has 
                driven every major breakthrough in our history, is 
                increasingly under threat. Today, across science, 
                medicine, and technology, ideological dogmas have 
                surfaced that elevate group identity above individual 
                achievement, enforce conformity at the expense of 
                innovative ideas, and inject politics into the heart of 
                the scientific method. These agendas have not only 
                distorted truth but have eroded public trust, 
                undermined the integrity of research, stifled 
                innovation, and weakened America's competitive edge. 
                This order establishes the President's Council of 
                Advisors on Science and Technology to unite the 
                brightest minds from academia, industry, and government 
                to guide our Nation through this critical moment by 
                charting a path forward for American leadership in 
                science and technology.

                Sec. 2. Establishment. (a) There is hereby established 
                the President's Council of Advisors on Science and 
                Technology (PCAST).

                    (b) The PCAST shall be composed of not more than 24 
                members. The Assistant to the President for Science and 
                Technology (APST) and the Special Advisor for AI & 
                Crypto shall be members of the PCAST. If also serving 
                as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
                Policy, the APST may designate the U.S. Chief 
                Technology Officer as a member. The remaining members 
                shall be distinguished individuals and representatives 
                from sectors outside of the Federal Government 
                appointed by the President. These non-Federal members 
                shall have diverse perspectives and expertise in 
                science, technology, education, and innovation.
                    (c) The APST and the Special Advisor for AI & 
                Crypto shall serve as Co-Chairs of the PCAST. The Co-
                Chairs may designate up to two Vice Chairs of the PCAST 
                from among the non-Federal members of the PCAST, to 
                support the Co-Chairs in the leadership and 
                organization of the PCAST.

                Sec. 3. Functions. (a) The PCAST shall advise the 
                President on matters involving science, technology, 
                education, and innovation policy. The Council shall 
                also provide the President with scientific and 
                technical information

[[Page 8644]]

                that is needed to inform public policy relating to the 
                American economy, the American worker, national and 
                homeland security, and other topics.

                    (b) The PCAST shall meet regularly and shall:

(i) respond to requests from the President or the Co-Chairs for 
information, analysis, evaluation, or advice;

(ii) solicit information and ideas from a broad range of stakeholders, 
including the research community; the private sector; universities; 
national laboratories; State, local, and Tribal governments; foundations; 
and nonprofit organizations;

(iii) serve as the advisory committee identified in section 101(b) of the 
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-194), as amended (15 
U.S.C. 5511(b)), in which capacity the PCAST shall be known as the 
President's Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee; and

(iv) serve as the advisory panel identified in section 4 of the 21st 
Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (Public Law 108-153), 
as amended (15 U.S.C. 7503), in which capacity the PCAST shall be known as 
the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.

                    (c) The PCAST shall provide advice from the non-
                Federal sector to the National Science and Technology 
                Council (NSTC) in response to requests from the NSTC.

                Sec. 4. Administration. (a) The heads of executive 
                departments and agencies shall, to the extent permitted 
                by law, provide the PCAST with information concerning 
                scientific and technological matters when requested by 
                the PCAST Co-Chairs and as required for the purpose of 
                carrying out the PCAST's functions.

                    (b) In consultation with the Co-Chairs, the PCAST 
                is authorized to create standing subcommittees and ad 
                hoc groups, including technical advisory groups, to 
                assist the PCAST and provide preliminary information 
                directly to the PCAST.
                    (c) In order to allow the PCAST to provide advice 
                and analysis regarding classified matters, the Co-
                Chairs may request that members of the PCAST, its 
                standing subcommittees, or ad hoc groups who do not 
                hold a current clearance for access to classified 
                information receive security clearance and access 
                determinations pursuant to Executive Order 12968 of 
                August 2, 1995 (Access to Classified Information), as 
                amended, or any successor order.
                    (d) The Department of Energy shall provide such 
                funding and administrative and technical support as the 
                PCAST may require, to the extent permitted by law and 
                as authorized by existing appropriations.
                    (e) Members of the PCAST shall serve without any 
                compensation for their work on the PCAST, but may 
                receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
                subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving 
                intermittently in the government service (5 U.S.C. 
                5701-5707).
                    (f) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
                as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), may apply to the PCAST, any 
                functions of the President under that Act, except that 
                of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the 
                Secretary of Energy, in accordance with the guidelines 
                and procedures established by the Administrator of 
                General Services.

                Sec. 5. Termination. The PCAST shall terminate 2 years 
                from the date of this order unless extended by the 
                President.

                Sec. 6. Revocation. Executive Order 14007 of January 
                27, 2021 (President's Council of Advisors on Science 
                and Technology), as amended by Executive Order 14109 of 
                September 29, 2023 (Continuance of Certain Federal 
                Advisory Committees and Amendments to Other Executive 
                Orders), is hereby revoked.

                Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or 
the head thereof; or

[[Page 8645]]

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    January 23, 2025.

[FR Doc. 2025-02121
Filed 1-30-25; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P
```