Another senior official has departed President Donald Trump’s administration, leaving a key White House position vacant as lawmakers struggle to advance legislation governing the cryptocurrency industry.
Patrick Witt, executive director of the White House Crypto Council, has left his position after his temporary assignment officially expired, the White House confirmed Wednesday, October 14.
The departure comes at a critical moment for the administration’s digital asset agenda, with negotiations over major cryptocurrency legislation stalled and the November midterm elections approaching.
The White House has not announced a replacement for Witt, who played a central role in coordinating the administration’s efforts to establish a federal regulatory framework for digital assets.
According to journalist Eleanor Terrett, Witt’s departure followed the expiration of his temporary assignment to the White House from the Department of Defense.
Witt had previously planned to leave his position in July to fulfill mandatory training requirements with the Georgia Army National Guard. However, that training was postponed, allowing him to remain in the administration for several additional months.
The White House indicated that his departure was connected to the conclusion of that assignment rather than a dismissal or a change in the administration’s cryptocurrency policies.
Witt had been closely involved in negotiations surrounding the CLARITY Act, legislation intended to establish clearer federal rules governing cryptocurrency markets.
The House of Representatives passed its version of the measure in July 2025, but efforts to move the legislation through the Senate have encountered significant obstacles.
Negotiations have been complicated by disagreements over stablecoin rewards and proposed restrictions aimed at addressing potential presidential conflicts of interest.
The legislation suffered another setback in September when it failed to advance through a Senate procedural vote.
That vote concerned whether the Senate would move forward with consideration of the measure, rather than whether lawmakers would approve the legislation itself.
With the bill still facing resistance and the midterm elections approaching, Witt’s departure leaves the administration without an announced successor to coordinate its cryptocurrency legislative strategy.
His exit also marks the latest personnel change involving senior officials responsible for the administration’s digital asset policies.
David Sacks, who served as the White House’s artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency czar, departed that position in March after reaching the service limit applicable to special government employees, per Trending Politics.
Harry Jung, who served as deputy director of the White House Crypto Council, subsequently left the administration in July.
Witt’s departure means three senior figures involved in the administration’s cryptocurrency initiatives have exited their respective positions this year.
The latest vacancy raises questions about who will oversee negotiations with lawmakers as the White House continues seeking congressional approval of its digital asset priorities.
Despite the personnel changes, the administration has not announced any departure from its existing cryptocurrency agenda.
For now, the White House has provided no indication of when a successor will be named or how Witt’s responsibilities will be reassigned.
