President Donald Trump has named former Attorney General Pam Bondi to the White House's top science advisory body, just two months after dismissing her as head of the Justice Department. Bondi will join the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), according to a White House official, placing a political loyalist on a panel typically dominated by tech executives and researchers.
The appointment comes as Bondi recovers from treatment for thyroid cancer, as first reported by Axios. Vice President JD Vance praised the move in a statement, calling Bondi an "enormously valuable asset" and expressing excitement that she will remain involved in the administration's most pressing issues.
David Sacks, the council's co-chair and former White House AI and cryptocurrency czar, welcomed Bondi on X, stating that "no one is better positioned to support PCAST and to advise the president on legal and regulatory matters." Sacks, who left his White House role earlier this year, co-chairs the panel alongside Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The council's roster includes tech heavyweights such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Bondi's addition marks a shift toward legal and regulatory expertise on a panel focused on innovation and competitiveness.
Bondi's appointment lands amid turmoil over Trump's AI policy. The White House has been wrestling with how to regulate advanced AI models that pose new cybersecurity risks. Last week, Trump abruptly pulled a scheduled executive order on AI testing, telling reporters he "didn't like certain aspects" of the directive and feared it could hamper the U.S. in its race with China.
The canceled order, obtained by The Hill, would have required AI companies to voluntarily submit their models for government testing for up to 90 days before public release. The last-minute reversal highlighted deep divisions within the administration over the balance between innovation and oversight.
Sacks, who reportedly spoke with Trump before the order was shelved, has pushed for a pro-innovation, light-touch regulatory approach. "President Trump understands that unnecessary regulation is the biggest threat to innovation in America," Sacks said. "Winning the AI race means not only beating China but also clearing bureaucratic hurdles thrown up by state legislatures and woke politicians in DC."
Bondi's new role also raises questions about the administration's broader legal and regulatory strategy, particularly as Trump's Justice Department faces accusations of vindictive prosecution. Her background as Florida's attorney general and her brief tenure as U.S. attorney general could bring a law-and-order perspective to the science panel's work.
The appointment is the latest in a series of moves by Trump to place loyalists in key positions, even as GOP senators revolt over handling of a $1.8 billion fund. Bondi's presence on PCAST ensures that the president's legal and regulatory priorities will be directly represented in science and technology policy discussions.
