Trump Signs Executive Order Establishing Voluntary Federal AI Review
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a framework for federal oversight of new artificial intelligence development projects. Specifically, this framework will allow AI developers the opportunity to voluntarily “provide the Federal Government with access to covered frontier models … for a period of up to 30 days before they plan to release such models.” Aimed at encouraging collaboration between the developers and our national security agencies, this order will seek to “promote secure innovation and strengthen the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.”
The order was prompted by concerns about national cybersecurity as AI systems continue to evolve. However, the voluntary nature of the order keeps AI companies free and unregulated so as to not stifle growth.
President Trump rejected a similar order on May 21, arguing that AI companies need space to grow and sustain their lead in innovations, and criticizing the 90-day review period as overly restrictive. Trump said, “I didn’t like certain aspects of it. I postponed it … We are leading China, we’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that is going to get in the way of that lead.”
The official order posted on the White House website tasks appropriate federal agencies to “form an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse, in voluntary collaboration with the AI industry and operators of critical infrastructure, that coordinates and deconflicts scanning for software vulnerabilities.”
This executive order does not require AI companies to use this clearinghouse but rather provides a voluntary framework to encourage open communication between the government and the AI industry. The White House clarifies that this “Order expressly states that nothing shall be construed to authorize creation of any mandatory governmental licensing, pre-clearance, or permitting requirement for the development, publication, release or distribution of AI models.”
The purpose of this voluntary process is to have a 30-day time window (compared to the longer 90-day window in the previously rejected executive order) in which federal agencies can have time to review the new AI models for potential national security risks. In the window, agencies will have the opportunity “to identify and remediate software vulnerabilities at scale,” the White House explains.
Since the order has been released, there have been many positive reactions to the order from different AI industry leaders. Meta AI’s president, Dina McCormick, wrote on X, “We appreciate the Administration’s support for public-private sector collaboration and look forward to continuing to work with the White House as it implements the President’s plan.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman similarly said, “the US should lead on AI by continuing to develop the very best models, making sure they’re safe, and getting cyber tools into the hands of trusted defenders. The new EO gets the balance right.”
Chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology David Sacks also supports the president’s plan. He wrote, “The change in the EO from a 90 day to 30 day period is a game changer because it allows our AI labs to comply with the voluntary framework without delaying new model releases.”
Some disagree with the order, arguing it does not go far enough to ensure national security. Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia said, “This is underwhelming policy that mirrors the Trump administration’s broader pattern of creating a wild west environment for AI development.”