Trump Blocks States from Enforcing Their Own AI Regulations
President Donald Trump signed a high-stakes executive order Thursday blocking U.S. states from enforcing their own regulations on artificial intelligence (AI), a move designed to centralize AI governance under a single federal framework.
The order pits federal authority against growing efforts by states to regulate AI harms like discrimination, privacy violations, and deepfakes, raising the stakes in the national debate over how to oversee powerful new technology.
According to the White House, the executive order tasks the Attorney General with creating an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state AI laws that conflict with national policy priorities, including on grounds they burden innovation or interstate commerce. The Commerce Department will publish an evaluation of existing state AI laws and could withhold non-deployment broadband funding from states deemed to have “onerous” regulations.
The administration argues that allowing 50 different regulatory regimes would make compliance costly for businesses and weaken U.S. competitiveness, particularly against China. But the order stops short of opposing all state measures, with officials saying it will not challenge state laws aimed at child safety.
“This executive order gives your administration tools to push back on the most onerous and excessive state regulations,” said White House AI adviser David Sacks, emphasizing cooperation with Congress on a federal framework.
Civil liberties groups, state officials, and some lawmakers from both parties have criticized the move as federal overreach that could weaken protections for consumers and workers.
Legal experts say the order may face significant court challenges on constitutional grounds, and questions remain about how it will interact with existing state law.
In the coming weeks, the Department of Commerce’s evaluation and the Attorney General’s task force formation will be key milestones in how this national policy reshapes AI regulation.
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