White House Offices

The White House

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
The mission of OMB is to help the President in carrying out his constitutional and statutory duties. OMB fulfills this mission primarily by assisting the President: (1) To create policy relating to expenditures and receipts, regulations, information and legislation; (2) To manage the Executive Branch of the government in the faithful execution of laws, policies and programs; (3) By providing the highest quality of analysis and advice on a broad range of topics. In assisting the President in managing the Executive Branch, OMB carries out numerous, OMB-specific, statutory responsibilities, and exercises various delegated authorities.

Office of Science and Technology Policy
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government. To that end, it advises the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the impacts of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. Also, OSTP leads an interagency effort to develop and implement sound science and technology policies and budgets and works with the private sector to ensure Federal investments in science and technology contribute to economic prosperity, environmental quality, and national security. OSTP also builds strong partnerships among Federal, State, and local governments, other countries, and the scientific community and evaluates the scale, quality, and effectiveness of the Federal effort in science and technology

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)
PCAST was originally established by President George Bush in 1990 to enable the President to receive advice from the private sector and academic community on technology, scientific research priorities, and math and science education. Since its creation, PCAST has been expanded and currently consists of 23 members plus the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy who serves as the Council's Co-Chair. The council members, distinguished individuals appointed by the President, are drawn from industry, education, and research institutions, and other nongovernmental organizations.

President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC)
Established on February 11, 1997, the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC), (originally the Presidential Advisory Committee on High Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet) provide the President, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Federal agencies involved in IT R&D with guidance and advice on all areas of high performance computing, communications, and information technologies. Representing the research, education, and library communities and including network providers and representatives from critical industries, the Committee will help guide the Administration's efforts to accelerate development and adoption of information technologies vital for American prosperity in the 21st century.

President's Council on Bioethics
Created by President Bush in 2001, the council consists of 17 leading scientists, doctors, ethicists, social scientists, lawyers, and theologians and is chaired by Dr. Leon Kass, a prominent bioethicist from the University of Chicago. The Council plans to consider a range of bioethical matters connected with specific biomedical and technological activities, such as embryo and stem cell research, assisted reproduction, cloning, uses of knowledge and techniques derived from human genetics or the neurosciences, and end-of-life issues. The Council may also study broader ethical and social issues, such as the protection of human subjects in research and the appropriate uses of biomedical technologies.

National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC)
a precursor to the President's Council on Bioethics, NBAC was created by President Clinton in 1995 and existed until October 2001. It advised, consulted with, and made recommendations to the National Science and Technology Council, chaired by the President, Federal agencies, and other appropriate entities. The Commission was required to make its advice and recommendations available to the public. The Commission's purview included the appropriateness of departmental, agency, or other governmental programs, policies, assignments, missions, guidelines, and regulations as they related to bioethical issues arising from research on human biology and behavior, and applications, including the clinical applications, of that research. The Commission identified broad, overarching principles to govern the ethical conduct of research. The Commission is not responsible for the oversight of any specific projects.