Senator Hassan Meets with Nominee for Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Senator Hassan meets with Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, nominee for Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). 

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan yesterday met with Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, President Trump’s nominee to serve as the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The Office of Science and Technology Policy has been without a director since President Trump’s inauguration, and it’s the longest period without a director since its inception in 1976.

“The Office of Science and Technology Policy is crucial in advising the President on scientific and technical matters pertaining to our national security, economy, innovation, education of our young people, and more, and it is deeply concerning that the office has been without a leader for so long,” Senator Hassan said. “I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Dr. Droegemeier and to hear more about how his experience will help ensure that federal policy is informed by sound, factual science. In particular, I was pleased to hear that, if confirmed, Dr. Droegemeier would focus on ensuring that the United States continues to be a leader in science and technology, as well as working to strengthen science, technology, education, and mathematics (STEM) education for our young people, which is vital to their own success and that of our economy. I urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Dr. Droegemeier to lead OSTP, and I will continue pushing President Trump to nominate well-qualified experts to other important science posts throughout the federal government.”

Last April, Senator Hassan led a group of Senators in urging President Trump to appoint well-qualified experts for critical science posts at the White House Office of Science and Technology and throughout the entire federal government. The Senator followed up with another letter last November, again calling on the President to appoint well-qualified experts to fill key leadership positions at OSTP. 558 days into his presidency, President Trump yielded to these calls and nominated Dr. Droegemeier to serve as Director of OSTP.

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