Trump’s Science Advisory Council Is a Billionaire Tech Lobby in Disguise

The Trump administration has unveiled its revamped President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and it’s a glaring example of corporate capture. Instead of leading scientists and researchers, this advisory board is dominated by tech billionaires, venture capitalists, and crypto investors with a combined net worth exceeding a trillion dollars.

Co-chaired by venture capitalist David Sacks and White House science advisor Michael Kratsios, this PCAST is less about rigorous scientific guidance and more about advancing the business interests of its members. Previous councils featured accomplished academics and research scientists who provided objective advice. This iteration, however, boasts only one actual scientist among its 13 members.

David Sacks, a staunch Trump supporter who raised millions for the 2024 campaign and personally donated hundreds of thousands, leads the council. Sacks’ venture capital firm, Craft Ventures, holds stakes in AI and crypto companies, including government contractor Anduril. As the former White House AI and Crypto czar, Sacks helped roll back federal oversight, pushing policies that favor industry growth over regulation or public safety.

Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz and a billionaire with deep pockets in AI and crypto, is another key player. Andreessen has funneled millions into pro-Trump and industry-friendly political action committees. He dismisses concerns about AI-driven job losses and champions unregulated technological expansion, consistent with his techno-optimist worldview that technology can solve all problems—regardless of social consequences.

Even Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founder with a net worth north of $260 billion, has shifted from Democratic donor to a major Republican backer. Brin’s financial support for Trump and close ties to MAGA circles highlight how deeply intertwined Big Tech and the Trump administration have become.

This council is not an independent scientific advisory body. It is a revolving door for Silicon Valley elites to lobby the White House directly, bypassing traditional regulatory checks. Their agenda is clear: use federal power to boost American tech companies’ market dominance, often at the expense of public interest, environmental concerns, and democratic accountability.

The Trump administration’s PCAST exemplifies how corporate influence has infiltrated the highest levels of government science policy. It’s a warning sign that the administration’s priorities lie with billionaires and industry insiders, not with the American people or scientific integrity.