White House AI Policy Adviser Sriram Krishnan to Depart in June

Sriram Krishnan, the White House's senior policy adviser on artificial intelligence, announced Saturday he will step down from his position at the end of June, according to details first reported by CNBC.

Krishnan disclosed his departure in a post on X, calling the role "the privilege of a lifetime." He did not provide a reason for leaving the administration.

Leading AI regulation efforts

Krishnan has been a central figure in the Trump administration's efforts to establish a national regulatory framework for artificial intelligence as Washington grapples with security concerns surrounding increasingly powerful AI systems.

The timing of his departure comes as the administration advances new AI oversight measures. Earlier this week, the White House released an executive order directing federal agencies to request voluntary cybersecurity testing of the most advanced AI models before public release. The directive aims to address mounting concerns about AI capabilities that could expose vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

According to CNBC's reporting, systems like Anthropic's Mythos have demonstrated abilities to identify cybersecurity weaknesses in computer systems at institutions including banks, underscoring the security challenges that have driven policy discussions.

Why it matters

Krishnan's exit removes a key architect of federal AI policy during a critical period when the government is working to balance innovation with security concerns. His departure creates uncertainty about the continuity of the administration's AI regulatory approach, particularly as voluntary testing frameworks for frontier models are just beginning to take shape. The loss of institutional knowledge and relationships with AI developers could complicate ongoing efforts to establish consistent federal oversight.

Policy legacy

During his tenure, Krishnan participated in crafting policies aimed at preventing states from creating a patchwork of conflicting AI regulations—a priority for the technology industry. An executive order signed in December 2025 limited states' ability to independently regulate artificial intelligence, a move that reflected industry lobbying efforts for federal preemption.

The administration has not announced a successor or indicated how Krishnan's responsibilities will be distributed after his departure.

Details of Krishnan's exit were first reported by CNBC.