Trump personally moves to block state AI laws after Congress inaction
▼ Summary
– President Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to challenge state AI laws, citing the lack of a national AI standard.
– The order argues that state laws, like one in Colorado, force the inclusion of ideological bias in AI models and threaten innovation.
– Congressional Republicans recently excluded a Trump-backed plan to block state AI laws from a major defense bill, though it may appear elsewhere.
– Senator Ted Cruz has also been unsuccessful in passing legislation that would penalize states with their own AI regulations.
– Senator Ed Markey criticized the order as a payoff to Big Tech donors at the expense of public welfare.
In a significant move to shape the regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence, the administration has taken direct action to preempt state-level legislation. President Trump issued an executive order directing multiple federal agencies to actively challenge and counteract state AI laws. This decision stems from the current absence of a comprehensive national framework, with the order explicitly stating the need to prevent a patchwork of conflicting state regulations that could hinder technological progress and innovation.
The directive commands the Justice Department, Commerce Department, Federal Communications Commission, and Federal Trade Commission, among others, to employ their resources to fight these local statutes. The order argues that a single, streamlined national standard is essential, labeling emerging state laws as “onerous and excessive.” It specifically criticizes measures like one enacted in Colorado, alleging they force companies to embed ideological bias within AI models, a claim that sits at the heart of the administration’s justification for federal intervention.
This executive action follows notable setbacks for similar objectives in the legislative branch. Recently, congressional Republicans opted not to incorporate a proposal to block state AI laws into the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act. Separate legislative efforts, including those championed by Senator Ted Cruz to penalize states with AI regulations, have also failed to gain sufficient traction on Capitol Hill, leaving the executive order as the primary vehicle for this policy shift.
The move has ignited sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who frame it as a political payoff. Senator Ed Markey condemned the order, asserting it represents a direct delivery to major technology interests after extensive lobbying. He characterized the action as prioritizing the demands of wealthy supporters over public welfare, stating it comes at the expense of children, communities, workers, and environmental concerns. The debate now centers on the balance between fostering innovation through uniform rules and preserving states’ rights to address the societal impacts of powerful new technologies through their own legislative channels.
(Source: Ars Technica)
