Military
Pentagon Launches New Science and Innovation Board Even as Administration Slashes Research Funding
The Pentagon has merged its Defense Innovation Board and Defense Science Board into a new unified advisory body, but the move comes as the Trump administration cuts basic science funding and reduces oversight structures across the department.
Key Takeaways
- Pentagon merged the Defense Innovation Board (est. 2016) and 70-year-old Defense Science Board into the new STIB
- The board has drawn criticism for being 'uniformly white and largely male' in its composition
- University basic research funding faces nearly 5% cuts under the 2026 NDAA despite calls for faster innovation
- The Pentagon is de-emphasizing AI ethics principles adopted in 2020 and cutting oversight staffing
- No clarity has been provided on whether STIB will hold public meetings
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DT Editorial AI··via defenseone.com