Cantwell presses OSTP nominee on CHIPS Act, NSF funding and quantum investments

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, used her opening remarks at the committee hearing to emphasize federal investment in research and testing programs and to press the nominee for the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on sustaining that support.

Cantwell cited the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act as recognition of the country’s scientific enterprise and described testbeds, regional hubs and laboratory research as critical tools for keeping the United States competitive. She said the private sector is the main engine of innovation but urged federal support for talent, testbeds and research implementation.

“As president Trump nominee, you will be the chief scientist advising during this period of remarkable technology change,” Cantwell said addressing the nominee. She said she needed assurance the nominee “will be forceful on the investments that we would like to see in innovation.”

Cantwell raised concerns about statements attributed to the Trump administration that would slash the National Science Foundation’s budget by two‑thirds and implement sweeping layoffs; she said these are questions the committee would need answers on during the hearing. She also referenced past federal funding for quantum research, noting $625 million awarded to quantum-related hubs from the Department of Energy budget.

Cantwell pointed to the University of Washington as a major regional research institution and encouraged continued federal collaboration to move science from research into implementation. She indicated she would pursue those topics further in questioning of the nominee.