Trump Tech Leaders Take Center Stage

Trump Tech Leaders Take Center Stage

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发布日期: 2025年2月24日
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State of Play:?

  • The House and Senate are in session this week.?
  • Following the Senate’s passage of its budget proposal last week, the House is gearing up for an expected vote on its Trump-endorsed proposal Tuesday. There are just 18 days before federal funding runs out on March 14.?

Driving the News:?

  • Agencies and industry alike are working to navigate the possible impacts of President Trump’s recent executive order to take control of independent agencies, including the FCC, FTC, and SEC, and require “performance standards” as designated by the White House Office of Management and Budget.?
  • DOGE head Elon Musk is facing significant pushback from agencies and federal workers following a mandate from DOGE requiring workers to respond to an email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Saturday afternoon to list accomplishments in their positions. Musk posted on X that failure to respond to the email will “be taken as a resignation.” Certain federal agencies, including DHS, as well as unions representing federal workers, were told not to respond to the email.?

Three Things to Watch in Tech:

  • OSTP, FTC Nominees In the Senate Commerce Spotlight: The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a nominations hearing on two pivotal tech positions Wednesday. Members will hear from Michael Kratsios, who is nominated to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Mark Meador to serve as Commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission.?
  • The nominees will focus on key technology issues, including AI, quantum, and antitrust enforcement within the tech industry.?
  • Kratsios, if confirmed, will be returning to OSTP for his second term, and is expected to continue his push for AI innovation and standards development, alongside strategic shifts due to potential funding cuts to scientific agencies.?
  • Concurrently, Mark Meador's nomination for Federal Trade Commissioner is expected to bolster his antitrust approach on Big Tech, with both nominees playing significant roles in shaping the future of technology policy under the Trump administration.
  • Senate Banking Takes on Crypto: The Senate Banking Digital Assets Subcommittee will kick off its first hearing to examine none other than digital assets.?
  • Subcommittee Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) is continuing to position herself at the forefront of the crypto debate, including an expected push for comprehensive legislation on stablecoins and market structure.?
  • Despite her bipartisan efforts with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lummis faces challenges in rallying support from Senate Democrats on the committee to advance legislation, especially in light of potential cuts to AI and tech oversight agencies.?
  • Wednesday’s hearing will include key testimonies from industry experts, who are expected to advocate for significant reforms and more effective regulatory approaches to navigate the evolving digital asset landscape effectively.
  • What Trump’s Digital Trade Memo Could Mean for Tech: President Trump over the weekend issued a new directive instructing the United States Trade Representative to potentially investigate and address digital services taxes (DSTs) imposed by European countries on American tech companies.?
  • The order also mandates a review of EU and UK policies that could influence U.S. tech companies to develop technology that may affect free speech or those that “foster censorship.”?
  • This move, which could lead to retaliatory tariffs, is seen as a strategic effort to deter foreign governments from implementing or maintaining DSTs, and has been broadly supported by major tech industry groups. It remains unclear what potential impacts of this could have on digital services agreements and data sharing.

What's Happening This Week

Tech Hearings

  • The House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing to examine policies to counter China - Tuesday, February 25 at 10:00 AM EST
  • The House Judiciary Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee to hold a hearing entitled “Justice Delayed: The Crisis of Undermanned Federal Courts” - Tuesday, February 25 at 10:00 AM EST
  • The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on American Trade Enforcement Policies - Tuesday, February 25 at 10:00 AM EST
  • The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to hold a hearing to examine the nominations of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Mark Meador to be a Federal Trade Commissioner - Tuesday, February 25 at 10:00 AM EST
  • The House Oversight and Government Reform Delivering on Government Efficiency Subcommittee (DOGE) to hold a hearing entitled, “How Foreign Aid Lost Its Way” - Wednesday, February 26 at 11:00 AM EST
  • The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to hold an open session meeting to examine bipartisan legislative frameworks for digital assets - Wednesday, February 26 at 2:30 PM EST
  • The House Judiciary Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee to hold a hearing entitled "Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking and Online Exploitation” - Thursday, February 27 at 9:00 AM EST
  • The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to hold a hearing to consider the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be Secretary of Labor - Thursday, February 27 at 9:30 AM EST

Tech Events

In local news…


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