Top tech group exec joining White House as Trump adviser

An executive at a top technology trade association will be joining the White House as a tech adviser to President Trump.

Abigail Slater, the general counsel for the Internet Association (IA), which represents tech giants like Google and Facebook, will replace Grace Koh as a special assistant to the president with the National Economic Council, a White House spokesman confirmed to The Hill.

“The administration is hiring one of the best people in tech policy,” Michael Beckerman, IA’s CEO, said in a statement. “Gail knows internet and telecom policy from top to bottom, and while we are sad to see her go, her expertise will benefit our country and the administration as they look to foster one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy.”

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Politico reported the move earlier on Thursday.

At IA, Slater had been at the forefront of the tech industry’s legal and regulatory battles. Had she stayed on, Slater would have been involved in the sector’s court fight against the administration’s repeal of the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules.

In her new role, she’ll advise the president on technology, telecommunications and cybersecurity issues. The White House said Koh would be leaving the job in early March.