A Letter to Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Memorandums

TLDR

This letter establishes a framework for American scientific advancement focusing on three challenges: securing U.S. leadership in critical technologies (AI, quantum computing, nuclear), revitalizing the science and technology enterprise through reduced regulations and new funding models, and leveraging scientific progress for economic growth. The letter draws parallels to Roosevelt’s post-WWII scientific directive and positions technological advancement as essential to maintaining American global leadership.

This is a letter from President Trump to his science and technology advisor, Michael Kratsios, outlining a vision for American scientific and technological advancement.

The letter draws parallels to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic letter to Vannevar Bush near the end of World War II, which established the framework for America’s postwar scientific enterprise. President Trump frames this directive as a similar pivotal moment, calling for a “Golden Age of American Innovation.”

Three core challenges presented:

  1. Securing U.S. Leadership in Critical Technologies

    • Focus on artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and nuclear technology
    • Calls for accelerated R&D, reduced regulations, strengthened supply chains, and increased private investment
    • Explicitly positions this as a competition against “rival nations”

  2. Revitalizing America’s Science and Technology Enterprise

    • Proposes new research funding and sharing models
    • Emphasizes reducing administrative burdens on researchers
    • Calls for an ecosystem that “celebrates merit” and protects intellectual property

  3. Leveraging Scientific Progress for Economic Growth

    • References first-term achievements including the American AI Initiative, National Quantum Initiative, and creation of Space Force
    • Characterizes the previous administration as representing “4 long years of weakness and complacency”
    • Positions technological advancement as central to American greatness and global leadership

This letter represents a continuation of Trump’s first-term technology policies with an increased emphasis on competition with other nations. The language reflects a nationalistic approach to scientific advancement, framing innovation primarily as a tool for maintaining American global supremacy rather than international collaboration.

The letter lacks specific implementation details, funding commitments, or concrete policy changes. Instead, it serves as a broad directive to the science advisor to develop strategies addressing the three challenges. The actual impact will depend on subsequent policy development and budgetary allocations.

The reference to “celebrating merit” may signal potential changes to diversity and inclusion initiatives in scientific institutions, while the emphasis on reducing “administrative box checking” suggests potential regulatory rollbacks that could affect areas like environmental or safety reviews in research.

March 26, 2025

Dear Mr. Kratsios:

Scientific progress and technological innovation were the twin engines that powered the American century. The Manhattan Project fueled the atomic era. The Apollo Program won us the space race. The internet connected us to a digital future. Today, we will usher in the Golden Age of American Innovation. We will make America safer, healthier, and more prosperous than ever before. We will create a future of American greatness for every citizen, restoring the American Dream.

The triumphs of the last century did not happen by chance. As World War II drew towards a close, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote a letter like this one to his science and technology advisor, Vannevar Bush, charging him to explore new frontiers of the mind for the sake of national greatness and pioneer science in peacetime. Dr. Bush’s response laid the groundwork for the uniquely successful American partnership of Government, industry, and academia that built the greatest and most productive nation in human history.

But today, rivals abroad seek to usurp America’s position as the world’s greatest maker of marvels and producer of knowledge. We must recapture the urgency which propelled us so far in the last century. The time has come to return to our roots and renew the American scientific enterprise for the century ahead. So, just as FDR tasked Vannevar Bush, I am tasking you with meeting the challenges below to deliver for the American people.

First: How can the United States secure its position as the unrivaled world leader in critical and emerging technologies — such as artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and nuclear technology — maintaining our advantage over potential adversaries?

We need to accelerate research and development, dismantle regulatory barriers, strengthen domestic supply chains and manufacturing, spur robust private sector investment, and advance American companies in global markets. Rival nations are pushing hard to overtake the United States, and we must blaze a bold path to maintain our technological supremacy.

Second: How can we revitalize America’s science and technology enterprise — pursuing truth, reducing administrative burdens, and empowering researchers to achieve groundbreaking discoveries?

We need new paradigms for the research enterprise, including innovative models for funding and sharing scientific research, redefining how America conducts the business of discovery. We must build an ecosystem that attracts top talent, celebrates merit, protects our intellectual edge, and enables scientists to focus on meaningful work rather than administrative box checking.

Third: How can we ensure that scientific progress and technological innovation fuel economic growth and better the lives of all Americans?

During my first term, we made unprecedented advances in America’s scientific and technological leadership. We launched the American Artificial Intelligence Initiative, vaulting the United States to the front of the pack in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence. Our National Quantum Initiative established the foundation for national quantum supremacy. We created the United States Space Force and charted a new and daring course for America’s further exploration of space. All of this buttressed our security and bolstered our prosperity, and it reaffirmed America’s place as the world’s preeminent technological superpower.

Now, after 4 long years of weakness and complacency, we must set our sights even higher. I am calling upon you to blaze a trail to the next frontiers of science. We have the opportunity to cement America’s global technological leadership and usher in the Golden Age of American Innovation. We are not just competing with other nations; we are seeking, striving, fightingto make America greater than ever before.

Sincerely,