President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

This executive order re-establishes the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), an external advisory body of up to 26 members to counsel the President on science, technology, and innovation policy. It replaces a Trump-era version and assigns administrative support to the Department of Energy with a two-year sunset unless extended.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 7615

Impact dates

Jan 27, 2023
PCAST terminates unless extended by President

Key directives

Establish PCAST with max 26 members
Science Advisor serves as Co-Chair; President designates 1-2 non-Federal Co-Chairs
Science Advisor may designate up to 3 Vice Chairs from non-Federal members
PCAST to advise on economy, worker empowerment, education, energy, environment, public health, national/homeland security, racial equity
PCAST to serve as President's Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee under 15 U.S.C. 5511(b)
PCAST to serve as National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel under 15 U.S.C. 7503
Department of Energy to provide funding and administrative/technical support
PCAST terminates 2 years from order date unless extended by President
Revoke EO 13895

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

PCAST established; EO 13895 revoked
Science Advisor becomes Co-Chair

Near term (90d)

Presidential appointment of up to 25 non-Federal members
Designation of non-Federal Co-Chair(s) and up to three Vice Chairs

Long term

PCAST advisory functions across policy domains begin
Potential sunset on January 27, 2023 unless extended

Risks & tensions

Two-year sunset creates institutional uncertainty; prior PCAST iterations have lapsed or been reconstituted across administrations
Dependent on presidential will for membership appointments and extension—no binding timeline for staffing
Department of Energy support 'to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations' creates budgetary vulnerability
Vague on meeting frequency ('regularly') and output deliverables