President Trump’s upcoming appointment of a new AI adviser and creation of an “AI Force” marks a major transition in Washington, as the next official inherits a trillion-dollar industry moving at breakneck speed and a sharp federal power struggle over regulation. Announced on Sept. 19, the new post follows the departure of venture capitalist David Sacks, who stepped down in March after reaching the 130-day service limit as a special government employee.
The leadership change arrives as major artificial intelligence firms and federal lawmakers remain sharply divided over oversight. While AI giants OpenAI and Anthropic call for greater government intervention, Washington is grappling with how to regulate frontier AI labs that are developing technology faster than the government can write rules for it. Several administration figures have emerged as frontrunners for the role, each bringing distinct policy philosophies to the table.
Top Contenders for the White House AI Adviser Role
Among those reportedly in the mix to oversee policy for the trillion-dollar industry is Sriram Krishnan, a senior White House policy advisor on AI and venture capitalist. Named one of “The Architects of AI” in TIME Magazine’s 2025 Persons of the Year, Krishnan authored the administration’s AI Action Plan, which served as a blueprint to roll back market regulations and promote data center growth. Trump previously praised his contributions at a White House holiday party, stating in June that without him, things on AI would not function well. Krishnan also took on a more formal role at the National Economic Council after Sacks vacated the czarship until departing in June.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also been widely reported as a leading candidate, though he dismissed a Reuters report claiming Trump had already offered him the position as “fake news” during a Fox News interview. Bessent has repeatedly argued that AI companies should bear direct liability for their models, testifying before the House Financial Services Committee that creator accountability is the best guarantee of safety. He has also engaged in discussions with Chinese officials regarding a potential communication mechanism to handle national security threats related to AI incidents.
Rounding out the reported contenders are National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross and Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Cairncross has shaped administration AI policy since 2025, though his involvement has sparked internal friction; reports from Axios indicate he clashed with Bessent over Treasury’s expanding footprint in AI matters, while anonymous officials questioned his readiness to regulate frontier labs. Meanwhile, Kratsios has pushed back against calls to slow down or govern frontier AI internationally, telling the United Nations on Wednesday that rapid intelligence growth does not warrant a pause or restrictive global governance structures.
Did You Know? David Sacks served as President Trump’s first AI and crypto czar in late 2024 before stepping down in March upon reaching the 130-day service limit mandated for special government employees.
Legislative Pressures and Congressional Pushback
Whoever assumes the AI czar position will face intense scrutiny from Capitol Hill lawmakers demanding stricter federal oversight. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, is actively pushing for the “Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act” alongside Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Hawley stated that any new AI adviser must prioritize everyday citizens, arguing that Congress must enact statutory limits on data centers, block chatbots from pushing sexual material to children, and grant citizens the right to take tech companies to court.
“We should not just sit back and spectate,” Hawley told reporters regarding the urgency of congressional action on frontier AI companies.
The incoming adviser will have to manage these competing internal visions while simultaneously dealing with aggressive legislative proposals from congressional critics like Senator Hawley.
As the administration moves forward with its plans for an AI Force and a new adviser, the outcome of these internal policy debates will shape how the United States handles technological expansion, domestic infrastructure development, and international security coordination in the months ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
David Sacks stepped down in March after reaching the 130-day service limit as a special government employee.
Sriram Krishnan is a senior White House policy advisor on AI, a venture capitalist, and a former executive at Microsoft, Meta, and XAI who authored the administration’s AI Action Plan.
Senators Hawley and Blumenthal are pushing for the passage of the “Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act.”
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