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Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
David Sacks
Photo: The White House, Public domain

The Administration · Out the door

David Sacks

Former White House AI and crypto czar Out the door

The Silicon Valley investor who shaped Trump's artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy stepped back from the czar role in March 2026 and now co-chairs a presidential advisory council.

Why they left: He said he had used up the 130 working days a year that the law allows a special government employee. 1 2 Now: He co-chairs the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, an advisory body, and remains a partner at the venture firm Craft Ventures. 1

Biography

David Sacks was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1972 and was educated at Stanford and the University of Chicago Law School. 4 He was an early executive at PayPal, rising to chief operating officer before eBay bought the company in 2002. 4 He founded the workplace software company Yammer, which Microsoft bought in 2012 for $1.2 billion, and in 2017 he co-founded the venture capital firm Craft Ventures. 4 He is also a host of the All-In podcast. 4

Once a donor to candidates in both parties, he hosted a fundraiser for Trump in June 2024 and spoke at that year's Republican convention. 4 Trump named him White House adviser for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency in December 2024. 2 He served as a special government employee, a part-time status limited to 130 days of work a year that requires no Senate vote. 2 4

In the role he helped produce a 166-page report on digital asset regulation and helped pass the GENIUS Act on stablecoins in July 2025, and he worked on the AI framework the administration released on March 20, 2026. 2 Critics in Congress and ethics specialists objected to waivers that let him keep stakes in AI and crypto companies while shaping policy for both industries. 1

On March 26, 2026 he confirmed that his time as czar was over. 1 Earlier that month he had said on his podcast that the United States should find a way out of the war with Iran, and Trump said Sacks had not raised the matter with him. 1 Wikipedia lists Jay Clayton as White House AI czar since October 3, 2026. 5

In the job

What happened while David held the post.

  1. Trump named him AI and crypto czar. 4

  2. The President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets released a 166-page report with his help, and Congress passed the GENIUS Act on stablecoins. 2

  3. The administration released a national AI framework he had worked on, meant to replace differing state rules. 1 2

  4. Said on the All-In podcast that the administration should look for an exit from the war with Iran; he later said this was a personal view. 1

  5. Confirmed that his 130 days had run out and that he would continue as co-chair of the science and technology advisory council with Michael Kratsios. 1 2

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. TechCrunch reported that Sacks received ethics waivers allowing him to keep financial stakes in AI and crypto companies while helping set federal policy on both, and that ethics experts and lawmakers criticized the arrangement. 1

    Their side: No public response found in the sources opened.

Career

  1. Product chief, then chief operating officer, PayPal
  2. Producer of the film Thank You for Smoking
  3. Founder and chief executive, Yammer (sold to Microsoft)
  4. Interim chief executive, Zenefits
  5. Co-founder and partner, Craft Ventures
  6. White House Special Advisor for AI and Crypto
  7. Co-chair, President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names David Sacks. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. TechCrunch, David Sacks is done as AI czar - here's what he's doing instead, March 26, 2026
  2. Cointelegraph, David Sacks Wraps Up Crypto and AI Czar, Takes on New Role, March 27, 2026
  3. FedScoop, Senate confirms Michael Kratsios to lead White House science, technology office, March 25, 2025
  4. Wikipedia, David Sacks, Nov. 13, 2026
  5. Wikipedia, Jay Clayton, Nov. 13, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.