Trump’s empty crypto adviser seat, Vance takes on an anti-fraud role

The White House currently has no single dedicated point of contact for crypto policy, just a few days after President Donald Trump assigned Vice President JD Vance a new enforcement task in the role of “Fraud Czar.”

Trump announced Vance’s appointment on Truth Social, directing the vice president to target what he called unprecedented tax fraud in states controlled by the Democratic Party. The move comes after David Sacks quietly stepped down as “crypto czar” on 26/3.

Sacks steps down, with no replacement yet

Sacks confirmed that he has exhausted his 130-day work limit as a special government employee. Leaving the position is not a resignation or a termination. Federal law limits special government employees to serving for no more than 130 days within a 12-month period.

The White House confirmed it will not appoint a replacement. Sacks has been reassigned to serve as Co-Chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), an advisory body that issues recommendations but has no authority to run policy.

He joined the council alongside Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, and Marc Andreessen.

His departure has stalled the CLARITY Act in the Senate, and a broader framework bill for the crypto market is still not completed.

Senator Bernie Moreno warned that if the bill is not brought to the Senate floor before May, it risks being “frozen” until after the midterm election.

Vance shifts to fighting fraud

Meanwhile, the “Fraud Czar” title Trump gave to Vance creates a mission centered on enforcement related to government spending.

Trump specifically named California, Illinois, New York, Minnesota, and Maine as the main targets, arguing that the recovered funds could help balance the federal budget.

Federal raids have already begun in Los Angeles, involving arrests tied to $50 million in medical fraud.

These two “czar” roles are not related in terms of functional scope. However, the contrast is highly notable.

The administration is concentrating enforcement resources on fiscal fraud, while leaving vacant the position responsible for crypto policy at a critical legislative moment.