Trump Nominates Michael Kratsios As White House Science Office Director

According to Odaily, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Michael Kratsios as the next Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Kratsios previously served as the Chief Technology Officer during Trump's first term and was the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Pentagon. A Princeton University graduate and a distinguished fellow at Stanford University, Kratsios is recognized for his expertise in technology policy. David Sacks, known for his involvement in AI and cryptocurrency, commented on the nomination via X, stating, "This appointment is well-deserved. Michael has extensive knowledge of OSTP from his four years in the first Trump administration. We have spent countless hours discussing technology policy, and now, under President Trump's leadership, we will collaborate on these ideas. It's very exciting!" Previously, Sacks had denied reports of a change in his role, asserting on the X platform that claims of his role alteration were "completely false." He mentioned that he expects to split his time between Washington, D.C., guiding policy, and Silicon Valley. Earlier reports from Fortune suggested that Sacks' position had been downgraded from a leadership role to a general advisory position, partly due to his reluctance to leave his investment firm, Craft Ventures, and undergo a formal appointment process. Moving forward, Michael Kratsios will lead technology policy efforts, while Sacks will contribute policy ideas. Despite the change in his role, Sacks remains influential, frequently traveling between Florida and San Francisco and meeting with lawmakers. His appointment has sparked controversy over potential conflicts of interest, though some in Silicon Valley are optimistic, believing it could benefit startups. However, there are concerns about his expertise and the direction of future policies.