Top White House Scientist Criticizes Biden's End of China Initiative

A senior White House adviser has called the decision to cancel a key anti-espionage program "damaging." Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, made the comment on Wednesday. He was answering questions from Republican Congressman Daniel Webster. The program was called the China Initiative. It was run by the Justice Department to combat alleged economic spying from Beijing. The Biden administration ended it in 2022. Kratsios did not recommend fully restarting the program. But he agreed with Webster that ending it was harmful. The statement reveals internal disagreement over China policy. It shows that some in the administration view the cancellation as a flaw.