White House · 2026-06-06 · major
TechCrunch, Bloomberg, and CNBC: Sriram Krishnan Stepping Down as White House Senior AI Policy Advisor — Ex-a16z Partner Leaves End of June to Launch Outside Institution on Energy, Data Centers, and AI Access
Sriram Krishnan, the Trump White House's senior AI policy advisor, said on X he will leave at the end of June to start an outside institution focused on energy, data centers, and broadening US access to AI.
Trump's top AI policy advisor exits the White House at month-end to build an outside institution shaping US AI policy.
What is it?
Sriram Krishnan, the ex-Andreessen Horowitz partner who has been senior policy advisor on artificial intelligence at the White House for roughly 18 months, announced via X that he will step down at the end of June 2026. He is the second high-profile AI staffer to leave Trump's AI policy operation this year after David Sacks transitioned from AI/crypto czar to co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
How does it work?
Krishnan's portfolio inside the White House covered the administration's AI Action Plan, federal posture on state-level AI regulation, data center buildout, chip and export controls, and the question of US government equity stakes in AI companies. His departure leaves no announced successor in the senior AI advisor seat as the administration negotiates state-preemption legislation and an OpenAI equity stake.
Why does it matter?
The senior AI advisor seat coordinates AI-related work across federal agencies and is a primary funnel for industry input into White House policy. A vacancy at the top of that role — coupled with Krishnan's plan to keep influencing the same agenda from outside via a new institution — reshapes how labs, infrastructure providers, and state regulators reach the administration during a period of active AI executive-order activity.
Who is it for?
AI policy watchers, lab government-affairs teams, infrastructure investors
Try it
Read Krishnan's farewell post on X for the official statement and timeline.