White House Names DNI Jay Clayton to Lead Federal AI Strategy and Task Force
President Trump has appointed Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead the White House's newly framed 'Super Intelligence Force.' The task force, co-chaired by key defense and technology leadership, faces a 120-day mandate to deliver targeted AI governance and risk recommendations.
President Donald Trump has designated Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to helm the administration’s artificial intelligence portfolio, officially establishing a White House "Super Intelligence Force." Co-chaired by Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, the body will coordinate federal strategy across critical infrastructure, defense, public interest, and commercial sectors. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance also sit on the council alongside external tech advisors.
Clayton announced a 120-day timeline for the task force to produce a comprehensive assessment detailing the risks, strategic opportunities, and recommended regulatory scope for emerging artificial intelligence systems. Following a September executive order instructing federal agencies to adopt the terminology "super intelligence," the council aims to establish targeted policy mechanisms rather than pursuing an overarching regulatory bill. Defense leaders and industry stakeholders will closely monitor the task force’s output for clear guidance on how federal acquisition, operational technology integration, and national security deployments will be governed.
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