President Trump has been tapping a number of tech executives for a range of roles in his second administration over the past few months. Now, the first week of Trump’s second term, his cabinet is powering through confirmation hearings and unofficial advisors are assuming their posts.
Here is a running list of big Silicon Valley names expected to take part in the Trump administration, in no particular order:
ELON MUSK
Elon Musk has pushed his way to the forefront of Trump’s group, becoming one of his closet advisors. While he won’t serve in an official role that requires government confirmation, he is set to run the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (or DOGE) that is meant to cut government spending.
DAVID SACKS
David Sacks, a member of the “PayPal Mafia” and a venture capitalist, was named as Trump’s pick for White House AI and crypto czar. “David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship.”
EMIL MICHAEL
Trump nominated former Uber chief business officer Emil Michael as undersecretary of defense for research and engineering. He has a history in politics, previously serving as special assistant to the secretary of defense.
SCOTT KUPOR
Scott Kupor, a partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, was named Trump’s pick for director of the office of personnel management.
SRIRAM KRISHNAN
Sriram Krishnan was most recently a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. He’s Trump’s pick for senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
KEN HOWERY
PayPal and Founders Fund cofounder Ken Howery served in Trump’s first administration as ambassador to Sweden. This time around, he’s being tapped for the ambassador to Denmark. It’ll be a key role, as Trump is trying to secure Denmark’s autonomous territory Greenland.
MICHAEL KRATSIOS
Michael Kratsios is the managing director of Scale AI and worked under the first Trump administration. Now, he’s appointed director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and assistant to the president for science and technology. Trump said Kratsios will work closely with Sacks.
JACOB HELBERG
Trump named Jacob Helberg, a senior advisor to Palantir CEO Alex Karp, as undersecretary for economic growth, energy, and the environment at the U.S. State Department. He also worked on efforts to ban TikTok.
ARED ISAACMAN
Trump’s pick for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman is a tech billionaire with close ties to Musk and his SpaceX. Isaacman helped crew a spaceflight on the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in 2021.
JIM O’NEILL
Silicon Valley investor Jim O’Neill, who is close to Trump backer Peter Thiel, was named as Trump’s pick for deputy secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services. O’Neill was reportedly under consideration to become Trump’s first FDA commissioner in his first term. He also has a history in government. He served as HHS principal associate deputy secretary in the Bush administration.
GAIL SLATER
Gail Slater, a veteran tech advisor, is set to serve as assistant attorney general for the antitrust division at the Department of Justice. “In her new role, Gail will help ensure that our competition laws are enforced, both vigorously and FAIRLY, with clear rules that facilitate, rather than stifle, the ingenuity of our greatest companies,” Mr. Trump said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jessica Bursztynsky is a staff writer on Fast Company’s technology desk. She primarily focuses on the gig economy and other consumer internet companies, including gig workers working in extreme heat, Tinder’s plans to refresh the legacy app, and Uber and Lyft’s worker benefits
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