WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration Friday unveiled a legislative framework for a national artificial intelligence policy, aiming to establish uniform safety and security standards while preempting state-level regulations. The move comes as concerns grow globally about the rapid development and potential impacts of AI technology.
The six-pronged outline proposes regulations spanning child safety, data center energy use, and intellectual property rights. A key component seeks to prevent AI systems from being used to suppress lawful political expression, a concern voiced by civil liberties groups as AI-powered content moderation tools become more prevalent.
“The White House’s national AI legislative framework will unleash American ingenuity to win the global AI race,” said Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, in a statement. He added the framework would “deliver breakthroughs that create jobs, lower costs, and improve lives for Americans across the country.”
The administration hopes to work with Congress in the coming months to turn the framework into a bill President Trump can sign, with a goal of codifying the policy into law this year. Kratsios expressed optimism about bipartisan support, despite a deeply divided Congress currently preoccupied with other legislative priorities, including the SAVE America Act concerning voter ID.
The push for a national standard comes as states like New York and California consider their own AI regulations. Industry leaders have largely opposed a “patchwork” of state laws, arguing they would stifle innovation and hand a competitive advantage to countries like China.
This latest action follows a December executive order signed by Trump calling for a single national regulatory standard for AI. The White House framework explicitly argues that Congress should preempt state AI laws to avoid a fragmented regulatory landscape.
The administration’s commitment to AI is part of a broader effort to maintain American leadership in the field, as outlined in the “Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan” released in July 2025. The current framework builds upon that plan, seeking to translate broad goals into concrete legislative proposals.