PSAC was an upgrade and move to the White House of the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) established in 1951 by President Harry S. Truman, as part of the Office of Defense Mobilization (ODM).
Its purpose was to provide advisory opinions and analysis on science and technology matters to the entire Federal Government and specifically to the President.
Two important themes common to many of the studies are the budgetary problems of funding projects, and the administration's concern over competing successfully with the Soviet Union in science and technology.
Kennedy rejected the committee's recommendation and aggressively pursued the goal of putting an American on the Moon before the end of the decade.
[5][6][7] The White House Office of Science and Technology and the United States Congress were made to rely on federal agencies for guidance in scientific policy.