President Donald Trump’s chief adviser on cryptocurrency, David Sacks, is currently serving under a “special government employee” (SGE) designation. This status is intended for individuals who fulfill significant but temporary roles within the federal government. Recently, Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with several fellow Democrats in Congress, expressed concerns regarding Sacks’s adherence to the time limit associated with this designation.
Under the SGE regulations, employees are restricted to a maximum of 130 working days in a single year. In a letter addressed to Sacks, the legislators requested a specific count of the days he has worked in his capacity as the crypto and artificial intelligence czar since the Biden administration began on January 20. The letter highlights that any day of work counts against the 130-day limit. The lawmakers underscored that if Sacks has been active every business day, his 130th working day would reach its limit on July 25, 2025.
The inquiry has been framed as an investigation into Sacks’s status, with concerns that exceeding the 130-day threshold could potentially undermine the delicate balance Congress intended when establishing the SGE designation. The letter pointed out that Sacks’s ability to simultaneously hold a position at Craft Ventures while working for the government hinges on his classification as an SGE.
The use of SGE status has gained visibility in the current administration. Trump has also utilized this designation for high-profile figures, such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, to bring specialized knowledge into governmental roles without navigating the traditional hiring processes. Earlier this year, Democratic lawmakers proposed legislation aimed at restricting individuals in SGE positions from pursuing personal financial interests while serving in government. Senator Warren has been particularly active in advocating for limitations on the SGE designation.
As of now, over 170 business days have elapsed since Trump’s presidency began, during which Sacks has been at the forefront of the administration’s proactive crypto agenda. His efforts include supporting significant legislation to regulate U.S. stablecoin issuers, a development that was marked by a White House signing ceremony, which Sacks attended. Furthermore, he oversees the administration’s daily cryptocurrency advisory operations, which have recently seen leadership changes; Bo Hines, Sacks’s original appointee, departed for a position at Tether, with Patrick Witt taking over as executive director of the President’s Council of Advisers on Digital Assets. Witt has indicated that he continues to work closely with Sacks in advancing the administration’s strategies concerning digital currencies.
