The Obama administration has redefined many aspects of our nation’s agenda on matters of science and technology (S&T) policy. In the past year alone, diminished federal funding for research has shifted to a renewed commitment to scientific research through increased investments via the stimulus package and a goal to increase U.S. research and development (R&D) investments to 3 percent of the gross domestic product. This focus on investing in R&D as a means to address national and global issues such as economic competitiveness, climate change, energy security, health research, and math and science education has raised the prominence of the critical role of our nation’s research enterprise. With that distinction, however, comes certain expectations. Can the S&T community deliver the knowledge, ideas, and solutions to the challenges that our nation and the world faces today? What impact will policy decisions have on the balance between basic and applied research and between scientific disciplines? This symposium will explore the future direction of U.S. S&T policy through the lens of the new administration’s R&D portfolio. Panelists will present the strategic perspective of the White House, assess the role that government agencies play in implementing that vision, and examine the perils of attaching short-term expectations with the long-term environment that is necessary for fundamental research.