{"id":19098,"date":"2017-01-21T01:09:48","date_gmt":"2017-01-20T17:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/whats-next-for-science-and-tech-key-posts-are-in-limbo-as-trump-takes-charge\/"},"modified":"2017-01-21T01:09:48","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T17:09:48","slug":"whats-next-for-science-and-tech-key-posts-are-in-limbo-as-trump-takes-charge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/whats-next-for-science-and-tech-key-posts-are-in-limbo-as-trump-takes-charge\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s next for science and tech? Key posts are in limbo as Trump takes charge"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Donald Trump met with tech industry leaders including venture capitalist Peter Thiel and Apple CEO Tim Cook last month. (Pool via YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although President Donald Trump says he\u2019s ready to delve into the mysteries of space, he still has to make key appointments at NASA and other agencies dealing with science and technology policy.<\/p>\n

And some of the picks he\u2019s already made pose challenges. For example, his nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency has in the past filed lawsuits against the EPA. And his nominee for energy secretary, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, once sought to have that Cabinet department eliminated (even though he couldn\u2019t remember that during a debate).<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick rundown on the questions surrounding seven agencies that deal with science and technology policy:<\/p>\n

NASA<\/h4>\n

Trump hasn\u2019t yet named an administrator, and America\u2019s space agency is currently in the custody of NASA\u2019s highest-ranking civil servant, Robert Lightfoot.<\/p>\n

Today, Lightfoot sent NASA employees a message praising the work of outgoing administrator Charlie Bolden and his deputy, Dava Newman. He said atmospheric scientist Erik Noble, who was a data strategist for the Trump campaign, would serve as White House senior adviser at NASA, and transition team member Greg Autry would be White House liaison.<\/p>\n

Among the oft-mentioned prospects for administrator are U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., who\u2019s a big proponent of space commercialization; and former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, who worked on the Constellation back-to-the-moon program during the G.W. Bush administration. Trump and his aides are widely expected to de-emphasize Earth science and a planned mission to a near-Earth asteroid, while giving a boost to lunar missions as well as studies of Europa, an ice-covered moon of Jupiter.<\/p>\n

For what it\u2019s worth, The Washington Post is reporting that Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk have discussed Mars and the options for public-private partnerships on space missions.<\/p>\n

EPA<\/h4>\n

Trump\u2019s nominee to head EPA, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, has been involved in at least a dozen lawsuits challenging the agency\u2019s environmental rules \u2013 including proposed limits on industrial carbon dioxide emissions aimed at addressing climate change. During a Senate hearing this week, he provided cautious answers to questions about the issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cScience tells us the climate is changing, and human activity in some matter impacts that change,\u201d Pruitt said. \u201cThe ability to measure and pursue the degree and the extent of that impact and what to do about it are subject to continuing debate and dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump has said he believes the concern about climate change is a \u201choax,\u201d and the president\u2019s newly minted White House website says he\u2019s \u201ccommitted to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule.\u201d<\/p>\n

The scientific consensus about carbon emissions and climate change is largely settled, but Pruitt is correct that the political debate continues nevertheless.<\/p>\n