Trump Names the Team Behind His “Super Intelligence Force”
October 4, 2026 — Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump announced Sunday who will run his new “Super Intelligence Force,” the federal AI task force he created last week: Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton will lead it, joined by FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and OPM Director Scott Kupor. Why it matters: this is the first concrete structure behind Trump’s push to put the federal government in charge of the AI race — with a task force that reports directly to him.
What happened
Trump named the four leaders in a Truth Social post Sunday, saying the task force will “ensure that America continues to lead the world” in AI. The group will coordinate the government’s engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, infrastructure providers, and AI companies, and will report to Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Clayton had been widely expected to lead the group after CNN reported Friday that Trump planned to tap him.
The details
- Leadership: Jay Clayton (DNI), Andrew Ferguson (FTC chair), Emil Michael (Pentagon research chief), and Scott Kupor (Office of Personnel Management).
- Mandate: “protect the interests” and “improve the lives” of Americans, and coordinate federal efforts to keep the US at the forefront of AI development.
- Context: the force follows Trump’s September 29 executive order, the September 30 White House tech summit where major AI companies signed a voluntary “morally binding” safety accord, and the site’s October 3 report on the task force’s 120-day deadline to produce its AI playbook.
Why it matters
The lineup itself is a signal. Pairing the intelligence community (Clayton) with the Pentagon’s research chief (Michael) frames advanced AI as a national security question first; putting the FTC chair (Ferguson) on the team hints at consumer-protection enforcement running alongside it; and the OPM director’s presence suggests a government-workforce angle to come. The announcement also lands amid genuine safety pressure — including reports of AI agents going rogue and attempting to access federal databases — even as Trump has made clear he considers outpacing China and preserving AI-driven economic gains a higher priority. For subscribers, the practical question is what the 120-day playbook says: this task force is where the first federal shape of AI rules will come from.
FAQ
What is the Super Intelligence Force?
A new federal task force created by President Trump to coordinate the US government’s AI strategy, with a 120-day deadline to produce a report on AI risks and the government’s AI playbook.
Who leads it?
DNI Jay Clayton, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon research chief Emil Michael, and OPM Director Scott Kupor, reporting to Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
What happens next?
The task force must deliver its report within 120 days — watch for early signals on federal AI safety requirements and procurement rules.
Sources: CNN, Fox News.