Task force establishment and leadership

US President Donald Trump announced the establishment of the Super Intelligence Force on 4 October 2026, designating Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as the administration's primary artificial intelligence coordinator. The appointment follows an executive order signed on 29 September 2026 that officially replaced the term artificial intelligence with super intelligence across federal government departments. Clayton leads a four-member leadership group comprising Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. The task force is charged with coordinating federal initiatives, overseeing interactions with commercial firms, and securing technological superiority against international competitors such as China.

Trump announced the formation of the entity on Truth Social following high-level discussions with 30 technology industry executives at the White House:

Following the historic White House agreement on super intelligence, which brought together the world's most important tech companies and confirmed their responsibilities to the American people, I announce the creation of the Super Intelligence Force.

Mandate and reporting schedule

The newly formed task force reports directly to the president and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Under its operational charter, the panel oversees federal engagement with consumer groups, public benefit organizations, faith communities, critical infrastructure operators, and developer companies. The group will evaluate current reporting mechanisms for data leaks, cyberattacks, and systemic security risks, identifying ways to enhance government response capabilities under existing legal authorities. Clayton's team is mandated to produce a comprehensive report within 120 days of its formation, outlining recommendations for federal policy and potential congressional measures.

Clayton described the balance between development and national security during public remarks on the initiative:

When something is both a huge opportunity and a threat, it is better to quickly take full control over it.

Regulatory posture and industry relations

The administration has favoured industry self-regulation over mandatory federal guardrails, with Trump rejecting safety warnings from researchers as unfounded theories. That posture contrasts with warnings issued by Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei, who previously advocated for a development slowdown to prevent automated agents from compromising network infrastructure. Amodei and OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman were among thirty executives invited to White House meetings hosted alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, alongside Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang, Palantir Chief Executive Officer Alex Karp, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk. In an interview published on 4 October 2026, Altman stated that the societal benefits of advanced technology justify accepting certain operational risks.

Intelligence background and advisory transition

Clayton is the second official appointed to oversee artificial intelligence policy during Trump's second term. Venture capitalist David Sacks held the position at the start of the administration before resigning to serve as an external advisor. Clayton took office as Director of National Intelligence in August 2026 after lawmakers rejected Trump's initial nominee, Bill Pulte. Prior to leading the intelligence community, Clayton served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where his office prosecuted high-profile international matters, including drug trafficking indictments against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.