The Trump administration has put forth a significant revamp of America’s scientific research system, marking the most extensive change in over 80 years. This overhaul places a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence in driving discoveries and aims to explore new approaches beyond traditional peer review processes. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy unveiled a report titled “Science: A New Golden Age,” which outlines a shift in the distribution of approximately $200 billion in annual research and development funding.
The proposed blueprint suggests a shift towards providing more federal backing to individual scientists rather than established institutions. It advocates for the establishment of agile research organizations and the expansion of programs similar to the Advanced Research Projects Agency to undertake high-risk endeavors. OSTP Director Michael Kratsios emphasized the importance of adapting scientific institutions to the modern era, echoing the transformative changes post-World War II.
The report challenges the prevailing consensus-based peer review system, which often favors conventional research and established programs. It introduces innovative concepts like “golden tickets” to support unconventional proposals that might not align with traditional review panel preferences. Additionally, the administration encourages agencies to explore diverse mechanisms such as prizes, market commitments, and regranting models to foster high-risk, high-reward research initiatives.
Artificial intelligence stands as a cornerstone of the proposed strategy, with federal agencies urged to expand the Genesis Mission launched in November 2025. This mission aims to enhance the productivity and impact of American science and engineering by leveraging supercomputers, scientific datasets, instruments, and AI models. The initiative envisions specialized scientific foundation models, autonomous laboratories, and AI-driven systems for hypothesis generation, experimentation, and result analysis.
