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David Sacks Keeps Major Voice in Trump AI Policy While Backing $100 Million Pro‑AI Campaign
David Sacks will continue to wield significant influence over the Trump administration’s AI agenda as co‑chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, retaining direct access to the president despite stepping back from day‑to‑day White House duties and loosening special‑employee conflict and days‑worked limits. At the same time, Sacks and other Trump allies are backing a new pro‑AI political push planning roughly $100 million in midterm spending, while a separate Alliance for a Better Future coalition has formed to run its own eight‑figure ad and education campaign focused on child and worker safeguards as a counterweight to deregulatory, Big Tech‑aligned groups.
📌 Key Facts
- The Alliance for a Better Future (ABF) has formed as a separate AI coalition focused on safeguards for children and workers, distinct from pro‑AI deregulation groups like Innovation Council Action.
- ABF’s leadership and policy council draw from family‑policy and social‑conservative organizations, positioning the group as a counterweight to Big Tech‑aligned and deregulatory AI spenders.
- ABF will mount its own multi‑million‑dollar (at least eight‑figure) ad and public education campaign aimed at lawmakers and the public.
- David Sacks stepped away from his in‑house role as Trump’s AI and crypto czar but will continue to wield “significant” influence as co‑chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, with a broadened remit over tech policy.
- Sacks will no longer work on White House premises or attend day‑to‑day meetings but will retain direct access to President Trump; officials characterized the move as more “a change in title than influence.”
- Moving outside government loosens conflict‑of‑interest and days‑worked limits that applied when Sacks was a special government employee, even as some of his investments (e.g., SpaceX) could benefit from current policy.
- Sriram Krishnan will take a new National Economic Council role focused on AI and the economy after working closely with Sacks on Trump’s AI action plan.
- Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon criticized Sacks’ deregulatory AI approach as out of step with GOP voter concerns, citing unease over his efforts to block state AI rules and his China stance.
- A White House spokesperson said the administration and Sacks remain broadly aligned on AI vision, pointing to a ratepayer‑protection pledge as a nod to public concern over data‑center power use.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 30, 2026
8:12 PM
Inside David Sacks' new role shaping Trump's AI agenda
New information:
- Confirms that after stepping away as Trump’s in‑house AI and crypto czar, David Sacks will still wield "significant" influence as co‑chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, with a broadened remit over tech policy.
- Clarifies that Sacks will no longer work on the White House premises or attend day‑to‑day meetings but will retain direct access to Trump, with officials saying the shift is more "a change in title than influence."
- Reports that Sacks’ move outside government loosens conflict‑of‑interest and days‑worked limits that applied when he was a special government employee, even as some of his investments such as SpaceX stand to benefit from current policy.
- Names Sriram Krishnan as taking a new NEC role focused on AI and the economy, after working closely with Sacks on Trump’s AI action plan.
- Includes criticism from former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, who says Sacks’ deregulatory AI approach is out of step with GOP voter concerns and notes GOP unease over his efforts to block state AI rules and his China stance.
- Quotes a White House spokesperson insisting Trump has assembled top minds and that the administration and Sacks remain broadly aligned on AI vision, pointing to a ratepayer protection pledge as a nod to public concern over data‑center power use.
3:19 PM
New AI coalition targets Washington, Big Tech as group warns child safety risks outpacing safeguards
New information:
- The Alliance for a Better Future (ABF) has formed as a separate coalition focused on AI safeguards for children and workers, distinct from pro‑AI deregulation groups like Innovation Council Action.
- ABF will mount its own multi‑million‑dollar (at least eight‑figure) ad and education campaign directed at lawmakers and the public.
- ABF’s leadership and policy council draw from family‑policy and social‑conservative organizations, positioning it as a counter‑weight to Big Tech‑aligned and deregulatory AI spenders.
March 29, 2026