Chris Fall was picked to be the Trump administration’s leader of the US Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI, previously called the AI Safety Institute until it was renamed last year) in April, but now CNBC and Reuters report he is out. The reasons for his departure are unclear, as is the role of CAISI in the administration’s constantly shifting priorities around AI. [Link: Head of US AI safety agency resigns | https://www.reuters.com/world/us/head-us-ai-safety-agency-resigns-2026-07-20/ | Reuters]

The abrupt departure comes as the Trump administration grapples with how to deploy AI safely and the agency hashes out standards.

WASHINGTON, July 20 : U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation Director Chris Fall has resigned just three months after being appointed to lead the federal AI testing institute…

Chris Fall has resigned as Director of the US Centre for AI Standards and Innovation. He was appointed to lead the federal AI testing institute just three months ago. A Commerce…