US AI safety watchdog faces scrutiny over White House ties

The US government body responsible for testing advanced AI systems has no permanent leader and has stopped publishing its research, according to the Associated Press. Former government officials said staff at the Center for Advancing Innovation and Standards for Super Intelligence (CAISSI), within the Commerce Department, have been asked to report informally to a White House office. Critics warn that closer political oversight could soften findings on risks including cyberattacks and bioweapons to suit AI companies.

The centre has faced repeated leadership changes. Former Anthropic researcher Collin Burns was pushed out as director after four days in April, reportedly over his company ties. His successor, Chris Fall, resigned three months later. Arvind Raman, head of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is now acting director. CAISSI receives $10 million (€8.94m) a year, roughly an eighth of its UK counterpart’s budget.

Congress questioned the halt in safety reports in August. President Donald Trump subsequently urged voluntary industry self-policing, but his administration has not explained how compliance will be checked. The White House redirected questions about CAISSI to Trump’s Super Intelligence Force. Civil liberties advocates warn that framing AI safety primarily as national security could sideline consumer protection, privacy and civil rights.