The Biden-Harris administration announced actions this week from government, academia, and civil society that aim to grow and enable the public interest technology ecosystem through bolstering the workforce.
The July 16 announcements – spearheaded by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) – aim to support the education and career pathways necessary to ensure the government has access to diverse, expert, mission-oriented tech talent.
Among a range of commitments announced by OSTP, the Department of Defense, with support from the Office of Management and Budget and OSTP, will launch the Trusted Advisors Pilot this year.
This program will create a pool of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and AI experts that can be tapped by agencies to support implementation of presidential priorities like the administration’s October 2023 AI executive order.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) will provide at least $48 million to advance research, implementation, and learning opportunities, OSTP said.
That total includes $32 million to expand the Experiential Learning in Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) program, which supports inclusive experiential learning opportunities for diverse learners to succeed in emerging technology fields.
NSF also committed at least $16 million for a second round of funding for the Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT) program, which aims to ensure ethical, legal, community, and societal considerations are embedded in the lifecycle of technology’s creation.
OSTP also announced nearly two dozen additional commitments from industry and academia. Those commitments along with the NSF funding total nearly $100 million to advance public interest technology.
For example, the Ford Foundation is dedicating more than $20 million to enhance the field of public interest technology. This includes up to $1.5 million for academic initiatives such as the Public Interest Technology University Network, the establishment of a first-of-its kind public interest technology institute at a Historically Black College or University, and support for academic experts focusing on AI and civil rights.
Siegel Family Endowment will invest $20 million in the public interest technology ecosystem over the next three years. This includes $10 million to develop a national infrastructure for technology talent and field coordination programs.
The Ford Foundation, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Pivotal, and Siegel Family Endowment together announced eight new initiatives that will jointly commit $7 million through 2025 to support organizations that develop public interest technologists, solutions, and infrastructure, including allocating $2.25 million in 2024 to support civil society efforts to strengthen technical pathways to public service.
For example, they will donate $550,000 to Coding it Forward and Govern for America to provide early career pathways into state and local government for emerging public interest technologists; and $500,000 for the Center for Inclusive Computing at Northeastern University to diversify the pipeline for public sector cyber careers; among other initiatives.
