May 1 (UPI) — President Donald Trump formed the American Technology Council to upgrade the U.S. government’s use of digital services.
“It is the policy of the United States to promote the secure, efficient and economical use of information technology to achieve its missions,” reads an executive order signed Friday and published Monday. “Americans deserve better digital services from their government. To effectuate this policy, the federal government must transform and modernize its information technology and how it uses and delivers digital services.”
Trump will serve as chairman of the American Technology Council, which will include Vice President Mike Pence and Cabinet members from the Defense, Commerce and Homeland Security departments, the director of National Intelligence, and the director of the Office of Management and Budget.
It will be part of the White House Office of American Innovation run by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Two members of Kushner’s team with business ties will also be council members. They are former Microsoft and General Motors CFO Chris Liddell, who is director of strategic initiatives, and ex-real estate investor and developer Reed Cordish, who is assistant to the president for intra-governmental and technology initiatives.
The council also will include two White House jobs not yet filled: U.S. chief technology officer and the directorship of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
On Dec. 15, before taking office, Trump hosted a meeting with top tech executives — including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Tesla’s Elon Musk and IBM’s Ginni Rometty
The president is planning a summit in June where “about 20 leading tech CEOs will spend half a day in working sessions,” according to Axios.
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