Trump Signs Executive Order to Preempt State AI Regulations

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at preventing states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence (AI) regulations, seeking to establish a unified federal standard.

"We want to have one central source of approval," Trump stated during the signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Thursday.

The order directs the Attorney General to create an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state laws deemed unconstitutional or harmful to innovation. Additionally, the Secretary of Commerce is instructed to evaluate state AI laws that conflict with national policy priorities and to withhold certain federal funding from states with such laws.

This move has been welcomed by technology companies advocating for consistent AI legislation across the U.S., arguing that varying state regulations could impede innovation and hinder the nation's competitive edge against countries like China.

However, the executive order has faced opposition from state officials. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the action, stating, "Today, President Trump continued his ongoing grift in the White House, attempting to enrich himself and his associates, with a new executive order seeking to preempt state laws protecting Americans from unregulated AI technology."

Other critics argue that state laws are necessary in the absence of comprehensive federal regulations to protect residents from potential risks associated with AI technologies.