President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to block state-level regulation of artificial intelligence, arguing that fragmented oversight could hinder U.S. competitiveness against China.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at preventing states from establishing their own artificial intelligence regulations, asserting that a patchwork of state rules could slow investment and weaken the United States in its competition with China for dominance in the rapidly expanding technology sector.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said artificial intelligence development requires a unified national approach, warning that divergent state requirements could discourage major investments. “There’s only going to be one winner,” Trump said, referring to global competition in AI. He added that requiring companies to secure approvals from all 50 states would make large-scale development “impossible.”
The order directs the attorney general to form a task force tasked with challenging existing and proposed state AI laws that conflict with federal priorities. It also instructs the Commerce Department to compile a list of state regulations deemed problematic. In addition, the order threatens to restrict access to certain federal funding streams, including broadband deployment grants, for states that enact AI laws the administration views as obstructive.
The move comes as lawmakers from both major parties, along with civil liberties and consumer advocacy groups, have argued that artificial intelligence lacks sufficient oversight. They have raised concerns about the technology’s growing influence over employment decisions, housing access, lending, and medical care.
David Sacks, a venture capitalist advising the administration on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy, said the administration’s focus would be limited. He told reporters that federal officials intend to challenge only “the most onerous examples of state regulation” and would not oppose measures aimed at protecting children.
Several states have already enacted AI-related laws affecting private companies. According to the International Association of Privacy Professionals, Colorado, California, Utah, and Texas have adopted measures setting guardrails on AI use. Those laws generally restrict certain data collection practices and require companies to provide greater transparency about how their systems operate.
State lawmakers say the legislation reflects concerns about AI systems already embedded in daily life. Algorithms increasingly influence decisions such as job screenings, apartment leasing, mortgage approvals, and some aspects of healthcare. Studies have found that AI systems can produce errors or biased outcomes, including favoring or disadvantaging individuals based on gender or race.
In response, state proposals often require companies to assess and disclose potential risks of discrimination tied to their AI tools. Beyond broad regulations, many states have also passed narrower laws addressing specific uses of AI, such as banning deepfake technology in elections, prohibiting its use in creating nonconsensual explicit material, or regulating how state agencies deploy AI internally.
The executive order signals the Trump administration’s intent to assert federal authority over artificial intelligence policy as debate continues over how to balance innovation, competition, and oversight in one of the most consequential technologies of the era.
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