Bush has waited longer than any president, even former President Ronald Reagan (who named his adviser on May 19), to nominate a top-ranking science policy adviser, who could help him make key appointments in other departments. Bush supporters say the president has had quite a lot on his plate and that in the meantime, the staff of the OSTP manages White House science policy on its own. "There are about 35 people working in the office right now," says Richard Russell, OSTP chief of staff. "We are still up and running. We will see that the job gets done until the appointment is made."
Nonetheless, the high-placed vacancies have many in the science community questioning whether the president has any interest in consulting experts before making decisions in international trade diplomacy, or health funding. Scientists who want to plan their future grant schedules wonder how the government will manage its ...
