The Secretary of State asked Matt Clifford to remain as chair of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency until November 6 to facilitate the selection of a successor. Clifford decided to step down from ARIA following the completion of his first 4 year term last month to avoid conflicts with a new role at AI company Anthropic.

CEO Kathleen Fisher will continue to lead the agency, which focuses on a portfolio of programs in life sciences, climate science, and neurotech. The founding chair’s transition includes safeguards against potential conflicts of interest while the government initiates a search for a replacement.