Trump Signs Order for Unified National AI Framework

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at establishing a unified national framework for artificial intelligence regulation, directing federal agencies to challenge state laws that conflict with this approach. The order, issued from the White House, seeks to prevent a patchwork of state-level rules that the administration argues could hinder innovation and U.S. competitiveness in AI development.

The executive order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to form an AI Litigation Task Force within 30 days. This group will review and contest state regulations deemed to impede interstate commerce or national AI goals, in consultation with White House AI and crypto adviser David Sacks. It also empowers agencies to consider withholding federal funding, such as broadband grants, from states that enact non-compliant AI laws. Trump, joined by Sacks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Senator Ted Cruz at the signing ceremony, emphasized the need for national unity. "We have to be unified," Trump said in the Oval Office. "China is unified because they have one vote and that's President Xi."

Supporters, including tech industry leaders, hailed the move as...