White House AI and crypto lead David Sacks has announced that he will take on a new role as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, marking a shift in his position within the administration.
The change in title suggests his responsibilities will expand beyond crypto and AI policy to a wider range of science and technology issues.
Sacks was originally appointed by Donald Trump as the White House’s point person on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency before Trump returned to office in January.
Since then, he has overseen several early crypto policy efforts, including work linked to the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act and ongoing discussions around broader crypto market structure legislation.
Why the new shift?
David Sacks explained that the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, known as PCAST, acts as the President’s main group of outside experts on science and technology.
In a post on X, he said the council will start with thirteen leading figures from the global tech and research community, who will help guide decisions on fast-moving areas like artificial intelligence and innovation.
He also told Bloomberg that his previous role as the White House’s AI and crypto czar was technically a temporary position. As a “special government employee,” he was legally allowed to serve for only 130 working days in that role.
That time limit had already drawn attention from some Democrats in Congress, who questioned last fall whether he may have stayed in the job longer than permitted, adding some political pressure around the transition to his new post.
Sacks’ shift voluntarily or forced?
Sacks has also claimed that the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology will focus on some of the most advanced and strategically important technologies shaping the future economy.
In his interview with Bloomberg, he explained that the council’s role will be to study these emerging fields and provide policy recommendations to the President, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, nuclear energy, and other cutting-edge innovations.
Additionally, he indicated that one immediate priority will be advancing the administration’s recently released artificial intelligence framework. According to Sacks, the council is expected to play an active role in turning that framework into practical policies and initiatives, suggesting there will be significant activity around AI regulation, infrastructure, and competitiveness in the coming months.
At the same time, he noted that the council’s work will extend beyond AI to a broader range of technologies that could shape national security, economic growth, and global leadership in science and innovation.
Notably, Sacks did not specifically mention cryptocurrency during the interview, even though he has previously been closely involved in crypto policy discussions.
The council’s membership reflects the scale of its ambitions. It includes several high-profile technology leaders such as Marc Andreessen, Sergey Brin, Michael Dell, Fred Ehrsam, Jensen Huang, Lisa Su, and Mark Zuckerberg. Alongside Sacks, Michael Kratsios will serve as co-chair, bringing experience from previous roles in both Trump administrations.