Trump signs executive order banning states from regulating AI

Donald Trump is making his position on AI clear with a new executive order that blocks states from regulating the fast-growing technology.

On December 11, the president spoke signed one An executive order that bars states from enforcing their own AI regulations instead establishes a “single national framework” that directly challenges state-level rules governing the technology, NPR reports. As he signed the order, Trump compared the move to China’s centralized approach to governance and the country’s unilateral acceptance of President Xi Jinping’s leadership.

“We have to be united. China is united because they have one voice, which is President Xi. He says do it, and that’s the end of it,” Trump said.

Under the new policy, the Justice Department will create an “AI Litigation Task Force” to challenge AI laws at the state level and direct the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission to coordinate with the DOJ in advancing the White House AI agenda by circumventing what it calls “onerous” state and local regulations. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will also explore whether federal funding for rural broadband could be withheld from states with AI laws the administration deems unfavorable.

“This is an executive order directing aspects of your government to take decisive action to ensure that AI can operate within a single national framework in this country, rather than being subject to state-level regulations that could potentially cripple the industry,” White House aide Will Scharf said of the executive order in the Oval Office.

The executive order is expected to face legal challenges as technology policy experts note that the Trump administration cannot prioritize state regulation without an act from Congress. The order also directs Trump’s AI adviser, venture capitalist David Sacks, to work with lawmakers on potential legislation.

While Sacks insisted the move would protect children, the order has already sparked backlash from some Trump supporters, including groups involved in bipartisan efforts to pass AI safety laws for minors.

“This is a huge missed opportunity by the Trump administration to lead the Republican Party in a broadly consultative process,” said Michael Toscano, director of the Family First Technology Initiative at the Institute for Family Studies, a conservative think tank. “There is no point in a populist movement shutting people out on the most critical issue of our time. But that is nonetheless what they are vigorously trying to do.”

The executive order follows Congress’ earlier attempt this year block Republican attempts to stop states from regulating AI. In July, the Senate voted almost unanimously to remove a proposed 10-year ban on state-level AI enforcement from Trump’s domestic policy bill before it passed. Lawmakers also rejected adding a similar moratorium to the National Defense Authorization Act, despite Trump’s push to include it.

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