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Office of Policy and Strategic Planning

The Office of Policy and Strategic Planning develops strategic policy priorities and provides policy counsel to the leadership of the Department of Commerce. Specifically, we work with the department's leadership by:

Strategic Planning

  • Developing strategic policy priorities
  • Planning and coordinating the implementation of policy initiatives that support these priorities

Policy Counsel

  • Supplying timely and actionable policy advice to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary
  • Working with bureau leadership and experts regarding administration and department perspectives

Policy Coordination

  • Engaging bureaus within the department to coordinate and integrate policy initiatives with secretarial and administration objectives
  • Leading cross-bureau initiatives and supporting the implementation of bureau-led policy initiatives
  • Offering policy input into secretarial communications by coordinating bureau policy input

Policy Outreach

  • Synthesizing input and ideas from the administration, the private sector, non-profit organizations and the academic community to inform the department's policy formulation process

Related Content

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Earl Comstock

Press releases
I would like to thank Earl Comstock for honoring his commitment to serve for three years as Director of Policy and Strategic Planning at the Department of Commerce. I value his wise counsel, his deep policy expertise, his innovative thinking and leadership, and I thank him for his service to the American people. I know he will excel in whatever new role he takes on and wish him the very best.

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Fact sheets
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In March, the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) released the first in a series of reports updating and expanding our previous work examining the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce. That first report, "STEM Jobs: 2017 Update," provided an overview of STEM workers and their earning power. This second report provides a more detailed look at the gender dynamics of the STEM...

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The Employment Impact of Autonomous Vehicles

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Fact sheets
The U.S. Census Bureau has been collecting data on retail sales since the 1950s and data on e-commerce retail sales since 1998. As the internet has become ubiquitous, many retailers have created websites and even entire divisions devoted to fulfilling online orders. Many consumers have turned to e-commerce as a matter of convenience or to increase the variety of goods available to them. Whatever...

American Workforce Policy Advisory Board

About the Task Force Pursuant to Executive Order 13845, "Establishing the President’s National Council for the American Worker," the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board will provide advice and recommendations to the interagency National Council for the American Worker on ways to encourage the private sector and educational institutions to combat the skills crisis by investing in and...
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Apprenticeships
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Digital Trade in North America

Reports
As internet access and reliance grows, so does the potential for digital cross-border trade. Building on other work from the Department of Commerce's Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), this report, which serves to inform policymakers, business leaders and others, summarizes estimates of U.S. digital trade with Canada and Mexico. We cannot definitively...
Digital Economy

Women in STEM: 2017 Update

Reports
In March, the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) released the first in a series of reports updating and expanding our previous work examining the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce. That first report, "STEM Jobs: 2017 Update," provided an overview of STEM workers and their earning power. This second report provides a more detailed look at the gender dynamics of the STEM...

Foreign Direct Investment in the United States

Reports
The United States remains an attractive foreign direct investment (FDI) destination for a variety of reasons, including its large consumer base, a productive workforce, a business environment that encourages innovation and its legal protections. As a result, foreign firms make investments in the United States on a regular basis by establishing new operations, purchasing existing operations of...