David Sacks, the White House’s lead on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, is stepping down from his current position and will transition into an advisory role. His departure comes as his tenure as a special government employee reached the maximum allowed under US regulations, which limit such appointments to 130 working days within a 12-month period.
In a significant development, Sacks will join the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a panel composed of experts from both industry and academia. As co-chair, he anticipates contributing to a broader range of technology policy issues beyond just artificial intelligence.
Sacks has been a notable figure in the administration since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, he co-founded the venture capital firm Craft Ventures in 2017 and has remained active in technology investments.
Earlier this month, Sacks attracted attention by advocating for the United States to reduce its involvement in the Iran conflict, suggesting that Washington should “declare victory and get out,” a stance that is relatively rare among senior administration officials.
Appointed to the AI leadership role in December 2024, Sacks oversaw key policy changes, including easing restrictions originally imposed during the Joe Biden administration on exporting advanced AI chips to China.
Although stepping down from his formal duties, Sacks affirmed his commitment to supporting the administration’s recently unveiled artificial intelligence strategy.
