The website Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President has been uncharacteristically inactive in recent months. For example, the most recent posted speeches by OSTP officials John Marburger, Kathie Olsen, and Richard Russell are at least six months old. And with the exception of a report released last month on tsunami risk reduction, OSTP has been completely mute on substantive science and technology policy issues.

This seems pretty inconsistent with the quote from President Bush featured on the OSTP home page, “”Science and technology have never been more essential to the defense of the nation and the health of our economy”.

If it is so essential, then what gives with the absence of OSTP in the face of important science policy issues of the day?