President Trump on Wednesday pulled some of the biggest names in tech directly into his policy orbit, appointing a star-studded roster of industry leaders to the new President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The group includes Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle co‑founder Larry Ellison and Nvidia founder Jensen Huang, a trio that instantly vaults the panel into power-player territory.
The initial set of appointments blends private-sector executives, venture investors and academics, and is framed as a signal that the White House wants to lean hard into artificial intelligence, workforce readiness and the race with China. In practical terms, it folds Silicon Valley clout into formal policymaking at the exact moment federal AI rules and research priorities are starting to calcify.
Who’s On The Council
According to The White House, the March 25 announcement unveiled 13 initial appointees: Marc Andreessen, Sergey Brin, Safra Catz, Michael Dell, Jacob DeWitte, Fred Ehrsam, Larry Ellison, David Friedberg, Jensen Huang, John Martinis, Bob Mumgaard, Lisa Su and Mark Zuckerberg.
The same announcement notes that the council will be co‑chaired by David Sacks and Michael Kratsios, giving the body both a venture capital insider and a familiar policy hand at the top.
Why It Matters For AI Policy
The Wall Street Journal first surfaced the planned lineup, and Reuters later relayed that account, emphasizing that the panel could have a major role in shaping how Washington responds to intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence with China.
That mix of platform owners, chip designers and cloud-era veterans gives the administration a direct channel to the companies building the most advanced AI systems, according to Reuters. In other words, the people making the tools will be in the room while the rules are written.
What It Means For Silicon Valley
For Bay Area players, having their CEOs and founders seated on PCAST amounts to a front-row seat in Washington debates over AI safety, export controls and federal research dollars. It is a direct line into the conversations that decide where money flows and how tightly cutting-edge tech gets regulated.
The council itself was created by executive order and can include up to 24 members. Its charter tasks PCAST with advising the president on science, technology and national security issues, according to The White House.
What’s Next
Reuters reports that the 13 names are only the opening round, with the White House describing them as an initial slate and promising more members soon, along with details on the council’s first meeting.
Once the group starts work, lawmakers, watchdogs and industry groups are expected to scrutinize its early agenda closely as federal AI regulations and government buying priorities begin to solidify.
