Janet Yellen emerges as frontrunner for Trump’s AI czar position

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is emerging as the frontrunner to replace David Sacks as the White House AI and crypto czar, a source familiar with the discussions told CoinTelegraph. The move would see the chief financial officer of the United States take on a new portfolio that blends technology oversight with economic policy, a role the Trump administration created last year to coordinate its approach to artificial intelligence and digital assets.

The vacancy opened when Sacks stepped down in March after hitting the 130‑day limit for special government employees. His brief tenure highlighted the administration’s desire to shape AI policy amid a global race for talent and a domestic push to protect data privacy and national security. Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States risks falling behind China if it does not centralize its AI strategy. The czar position was meant to give the president a single point of contact for industry leaders, regulators and Congress, and to streamline funding for research and development.

Yellen’s name is being floated because she brings deep experience in financial regulation and a track record of engaging with the crypto sector. As Treasury chief she has overseen the rollout of new reporting rules for digital asset transactions and has testified before Congress on the risks of unregulated AI tools. Industry groups have welcomed the idea, saying her credibility could smooth the path for clearer rules. A senior adviser to the president said Yellen’s appointment would signal a “pragmatic, risk‑aware approach” that balances innovation with consumer protection.

If Trump formalizes the nomination in the coming weeks, Yellen will need Senate confirmation before taking on the dual portfolio. The appointment could reshape the administration’s AI agenda, potentially accelerating the development of a national AI strategy while tightening oversight of crypto markets. Observers say the decision will also test the administration’s ability to coordinate across the Treasury, Commerce and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, setting the tone for how the United States competes in the emerging AI economy.