The Trump administration plans to move three senior officials from a federal agency that evaluates advanced artificial intelligence systems to the White House, bringing AI testing and oversight closer to the president’s decision-making team. The proposed transfer involves the Center for Advancing Innovation and Standards for Super Intelligence (CAISSI), a unit within the U.S. Department of Commerce.
According to a report by Reuters, which cited reporting by The Information, the officials are expected to report to White House officials Michael Kratsios and Sean Cairncross. The White House and Commerce Department had not immediately responded to requests for comment when Reuters published its report on October 12, 2026.
What Happened
The Trump administration is planning to relocate three senior CAISSI officials to the White House as part of efforts to bring the agency’s leadership closer to federal AI policy decisions.
CAISSI is responsible for evaluating advanced AI models, including their safety and capabilities. Its work forms part of the administration’s framework for testing leading AI systems before deployment.
The officials’ names have not been disclosed in the reporting. Under the planned arrangement, they would report to Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Sean Cairncross, the National Cyber Director.
Why the White House Wants the Move
Addressing Coordination Problems
The reported restructuring follows concerns about coordination between the White House and the Commerce Department. According to the reporting, coordination problems highlighted the need to bring CAISSI’s leadership closer to the White House’s AI decision-making process.
The move would place senior agency officials closer to the administration’s central policy team. However, the available reporting does not establish that the relocation has been completed or provide a final implementation date.
White House Officials Were Already Co-Managing CAISSI
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick invited Kratsios and Cairncross to co-manage CAISSI approximately six months before the October report, according to a senior Commerce Department official cited by The Information.
The planned relocation would build on that management arrangement by placing three senior officials directly under the two White House leaders.
What CAISSI Does in AI Testing
CAISSI operates within the Commerce Department and evaluates advanced AI models for safety and capabilities. Its work supports the administration’s approach to assessing frontier AI systems before they are deployed.
The agency’s role matters because increasingly capable AI systems raise questions about safety, security, and how new technologies should be evaluated. Bringing its leadership closer to White House decision-makers could change how AI testing expertise is incorporated into policy discussions.
However, the reporting does not detail any new testing standards, changes to evaluation procedures, or additional regulatory requirements resulting directly from the planned move.
Trump Administration’s Broader AI Strategy
The planned personnel move comes as the Trump administration seeks to coordinate federal efforts to maintain U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
Reuters reported that Trump named Jay Clayton as the administration’s AI czar earlier in October. Clayton was tasked with coordinating the federal government’s efforts to preserve American leadership in the technology.
The planned CAISSI relocation would be another step toward centralizing coordination of AI-related work within the administration. Its significance will depend on how the White House uses the agency’s testing expertise and whether the restructuring leads to changes in federal AI policy.
What Happens Next?
The administration plans to move three senior CAISSI officials to the White House, where they would report to Kratsios and Cairncross. The available reporting does not confirm a completed transfer or specify when the arrangement will take effect.
The White House and Commerce Department had not immediately commented on the report when Reuters published its account. Further details about the transition, the officials involved, and any changes to CAISSI’s operations remain unconfirmed.
The development highlights the growing importance of how the federal government organizes AI testing and policy coordination. Whether the move improves collaboration or changes the way advanced AI systems are assessed will become clearer as the administration provides further details.
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The reported goal is to address coordination problems between the White House and Commerce Department and bring CAISSI’s leadership closer to AI policy decisions.
The Center for Advancing Innovation and Standards for Super Intelligence evaluates advanced AI models for safety and capabilities as part of the federal government’s testing framework.