The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is a presidential advisory council within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Its primary function is to provide advice and recommendations to the President on matters related to science, technology, and innovation policy. The council was re-established by executive order under the administration of President Donald J. Trump, with its initial members announced on March 25, 2026. ^{[1] [2]}

History and Establishment

The concept of a presidential science advisory body dates back to 1933, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Science Advisory Board. This organization is considered the historical precedent for the modern PCAST. ^{[1] [2]}

The Trump administration formally launched its iteration of PCAST on January 23, 2025. ^[2] On March 25, 2026, the White House announced the first thirteen members appointed to the council, including its co-chairs. The composition of the council drew significant attention for its inclusion of numerous high-profile leaders from Silicon Valley and the broader technology industry. ^{[1] [3]}

Mandate and Strategic Focus

According to the White House, the official mandate for PCAST is to provide the President with advice on the "opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies present to the American workforce, and ensuring all Americans thrive in the Golden Age of Innovation." ^{[1] [2]}

While its purview is broad, the council's core strategic focus for its 2026 term is artificial intelligence (AI). ^[3] The formation of the council is contextually linked to a previously released White House AI framework. This framework proposed that Congress should pass legislation to preempt individual states from creating their own disparate AI regulations, thereby establishing a unified federal approach. The council's work is expected to influence and align with this policy goal. ^[3]

Leadership and Membership

The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is structured to accommodate a maximum of 24 members. The initial announcement on March 25, 2026, named 13 appointees, with additional appointments expected in the future. ^[1]​

Co-Chairs

The council is led by two co-chairs with significant experience in technology and government policy:

• David Sacks: An entrepreneur, technology investor, and the designated White House AI Czar. ^{[1] [3]}
• Michael Kratsios: The former U.S. Chief Technology Officer and the head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). ^{[1] [3]}

2026 Appointed Members

The first cohort of 13 members announced on March 25, 2026, comprises executives and founders from the semiconductor, social media, enterprise software, cryptocurrency, and energy sectors.

• Marc Andreessen: Co-founder, Andreessen Horowitz
• Sergey Brin: Co-founder, Google
• Safra Catz: CEO, Oracle
• Michael Dell: Chairman and CEO, Dell Technologies
• Jacob DeWitte: Co-founder and CEO, Oklo Inc.
• Fred Ehrsam: Co-founder, Coinbase and Paradigm
• Larry Ellison: Co-founder, Executive Chairman, and CTO, Oracle
• David Friedberg: Founder and CEO, The Production Board
• Jensen Huang: Founder and CEO, Nvidia
• John Martinis: Physicist and quantum computing scientist
• Bob Mumgaard: Co-founder and CEO, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
• Lisa Su: CEO, AMD
• Mark Zuckerberg: Founder and CEO, Meta Platforms

The appointment of these individuals represents a significant assembly of leadership from major American technology firms. ^{[1] [2]}​

Notable Exclusions

Media coverage of the appointments highlighted the exclusion of several other high-profile technology leaders from the initial list. Specifically, the absence of Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, was widely noted. ^[4]​

Public Statements

Following the announcement of the appointments, several members and their companies released statements.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, stated: "The United States has the opportunity to lead the world in AI... I’m honored to join the President’s council and work with other industry leaders to help make this happen." ^[3]

Nvidia expressed its support for Jensen Huang's appointment, with the company stating it was an "opportunity to advance American leadership in AI." ^[3]