Pam Bondi has re-entered President Donald Trump's inner policy circle with a new role on the administration's technology advisory council, placing the former attorney general at the center of the White House's expanding artificial intelligence agenda just weeks after her departure from the Justice Department.
The appointment to the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, known as PCAST, comes as the Trump administration intensifies its focus on AI infrastructure, cybersecurity and competition with China. It also arrives amid lingering political scrutiny surrounding Bondi's handling of records connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during her tenure at the Justice Department.
According to Axios, Bondi is expected to help coordinate communication between federal agencies and major technology companies as the administration builds out its AI strategy. The council is chaired by venture capitalist and White House AI adviser David Sacks alongside White House science adviser Michael Kratsios.
The advisory group includes some of Silicon Valley's most influential executives, among them Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang and Larry Ellison, reflecting the administration's increasingly direct collaboration with private technology firms on AI policy and national infrastructure planning.
Bondi's return represents a rapid political rebound after Trump removed her as attorney general in April and elevated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche into the acting role. At the time, Trump publicly praised Bondi's work at the Justice Department, calling her "a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend."
"Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post announcing her departure. "We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future."
Her appointment has immediately revived debate over the political controversies that shadowed the closing months of her tenure. Critics had repeatedly questioned the handling and release of Epstein-related records, fueling backlash across social media and among some political opponents demanding greater transparency.
No allegations of criminal wrongdoing were filed against Bondi in connection with the matter. Still, the controversy became a persistent issue online, especially as Republican and Democratic critics alike scrutinized the Justice Department's approach to sensitive investigative materials.
Supporters inside the administration, however, have framed Bondi's appointment as evidence that Trump continues to value loyalty and political experience over public criticism. Vice President JD Vance publicly defended the decision after reports of Bondi's new role surfaced.
"Pam has been an enormously valuable asset to the president's team, and I'm thrilled for her and for all of us that she's going to remain involved in confronting some of the most important issues the administration faces," Vance said in a statement.
The AI council itself has become one of the administration's highest-profile policy initiatives as governments worldwide race to regulate artificial intelligence, semiconductor production, cybersecurity systems and advanced computing infrastructure. Officials inside the White House increasingly view AI development as both an economic competition issue and a national security priority.
Bondi's presence on the council adds a distinctly legal and political dimension to a group otherwise dominated by engineers, venture capitalists and technology executives. Analysts say her background at the Justice Department could position her as a bridge between Silicon Valley and federal regulatory agencies as the administration crafts new rules governing AI deployment and data security.
The political attention surrounding her return has also intersected with recent revelations about her health. Axios reported that Bondi was diagnosed with thyroid cancer shortly after leaving the Justice Department. According to the report, she underwent treatment and is now recovering.
Katie Miller, a former White House aide married to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, publicly acknowledged the diagnosis in a post on X.
"Pam has been quietly kicking cancer's ass the last few weeks," Miller wrote. "@PamBondi has a heart of gold."
