The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Science and Technology Policy joined in a guidance memo to federal agencies on the administration's research and development priorities for Fiscal Year 2019. The memo credits R&D for sparking economic growth and promoting national security. The document also articulates the need for federal funding for R&D. The R&D priority areas mentioned in the document include military superiority, homeland security, energy dominance, and health.

The memo asks that agencies avoid creating duplicative programs and identify existing R&D efforts that would be more effectively completed in the private sector. The administration is particularly interested in supporting innovative early-stage research, maximizing inter-agency coordination, developing a future-focused workforce, and modernizing research infrastructure.