The administration of Donald Trump has announced plans to sign an executive order this week that would pre‑empt state‑level regulation of artificial‑intelligence (AI) — consolidating oversight under a single federal standard.
Under the proposed order, companies would no longer need to navigate a potentially patchwork of 50 different state laws to deploy AI; instead, there would be one unified “rulebook.” The draft also reportedly tasks the Attorney General with establishing an “AI Litigation Task Force” to challenge state laws, and could lead to withholding federal funds — including broadband funding — from states with AI regulations.
The announcement has sparked concern among critics — including governors and policymakers from both parties — who warn that preempting state laws removes important protections for individuals around transparency, safety and privacy.
Supporters argue that a single national framework could benefit innovation, make compliance simpler for AI companies operating across the U.S., and help maintain the country’s competitive edge in global AI development.
