A new analysis of the administration’s high-tech agenda from an influential think tank was dismissive of President Trump’s aggressive strategy to boost spending on artificial intelligence, quantum, 5G, STEM, and Ivanka Trump’s worker initiative, and blasted White House immigration policies.
The just-released Council on Foreign Relations report, “Innovation and National Security: Keeping Our Edge,” also pushed aside the president’s call for a “Build America” visa to lure in foreign high-tech students in its attack at the White House.
And it even ripped gun violence in warning that immigrants may choose to go to Canada or Australia.
Among the recommendations over 115-pages is a call to pass the Dream Act, an amnesty plan for some 690,000 illegal immigrants.
“The United States needs to make it easier for foreign graduates of U.S. universities in scientific and technical fields to remain and work in the country. Congress should ‘staple a green card to an advanced diploma,’ granting lawful permanent residence to those who earn a STEM master’s degree or doctorate. Congress should also pass the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act,” said the report from a task force that included Silicon Valley executives, including a former Hillary Clinton aide and Facebook executive.
The U.S. needs a new national strategy to avoid losing its edge to China in technology and innovation, warns a new CFR independent Task Force. #KeepingOurEdge https://t.co/EOAz1vMSod
— Council on Foreign Relations (@CFR_org) September 18, 2019
The report warned that tech development for national security is in danger of falling second to China and that spending is being squeezed too much. It also called for new strategies to focus on AI, 5G, quantum, STEM, and tech worker development.
White House officials said that the report failed to recognize its “ambitious agenda” in those areas, it’s spending increases and Ivanka Trump’s bid to boost STEM training.
“The Trump administration is doing more to ensure American leadership in technology than any other administration in history,” Elena Hernandez, spokesperson for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told Secrets.
“The White House has launched national strategies and critical initiatives in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G, and STEM education. This administration is expanding rural broadband internet access, and we’re preparing our workforce to compete on the global stage. Our record on tech policy speaks for itself,” she added.
We’ve prioritized #ComputerScience education in America with a focus on inclusive representation in this critical industry of the future.
While there is still much work to be done, the trend is clear. We are encouraged that young women and students of color set new records in CS! pic.twitter.com/JaJwReoI2e— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) September 16, 2019
The report took note of some of the administration agenda advances, but warned that much more needs to be done for the U.S. to stay ahead of China, which is pouring billions into tech and space.
“The White House should announce moonshot approaches to societywide national security problems. This would support innovation in foundational and general-purpose technologies, including AI and data science, advanced battery storage, advanced semiconductors, genomics and synthetic biology, 5G, quantum information systems, and robotics,” it said.
But administration officials pushed back and said that the president is leading with several national strategies already announced on AI, STEM, 5G, quantum, broadband, and workforce development.
They noted that research and development spending has doubled, quantum spending has reached $1.2 billion, and that the U.S. has the fastest supercomputers in the world.
What’s more, they pointed to the president’s and Ivanka Trump’s efforts to expand worker, STEM, and school computer training.
