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President Biden’s decision to raise the job of science adviser to a cabinet-level position could make Eric Lander one of the most influential scientists in American history.Credit.Amr Alfiky/The New York Times
To the Editor:
“Is an Adviser Necessary to Help Elevate Science?” (Science Times, May 4) reported concerns that elevating the science adviser to the cabinet level could be “more symbolic than substantive.” For the sake of the country’s response to societal challenges, and its economic future and national security, let’s make sure that it’s substantive.
To get there, we need to support the Office of Science and Technology Policy, which the science adviser leads, beyond its pre-cabinet budget of $5.5 million a year. By comparison, other cabinet officials control billions.