Trump's Executive Order Shifts AI Regulation to Federal Control

Fri Dec 12 2025 14:00:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant political move, President Trump has signed an executive order that prevents states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence regulations, reinforcing federal oversight in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

President Trump has signed an executive order that blocks states from implementing their own AI regulations, aiming for a unified federal approach. This decision responds to concerns from technology companies about fragmented state laws hindering innovation. However, it has sparked backlash from states like California, which argue for the necessity of local regulations to protect citizens from potential AI risks.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at blocking states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence (AI) regulations.

We want to have one central source of approval, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.

This order will empower the Trump administration to combat what they deem as the most onerous state regulations, while maintaining opposition to any AI regulations that might compromise children's safety, according to White House AI advisor David Sacks.

The executive action is viewed as a win for major tech companies that advocate for national AI legislation, which they believe is critical for maintaining America's leadership in this swiftly advancing sector.

Leaders in the AI field have warned that inconsistent state regulations could impede progress and undermine the US's competitive stance against countries like China that are heavily investing in AI technology.

Despite the announcement's support from the tech community, it has been met with substantial opposition. California, the hub of many tech giants, has its own AI regulations designed to protect residents.

Governor Gavin Newsom, a prominent critic of Trump, condemned the executive order, accusing the administration of corruption intended to benefit Trump and his allies, stating, Today, President Trump continued his ongoing grift in the White House, attempting to enrich himself and his associates with a new executive order seeking to preempt state laws protecting Americans from unregulated AI technology.

This year, Newsom previously enacted a bill mandating that top AI developers formulate strategies to mitigate risks posed by their technologies.

Other states, including Colorado and New York, have similarly enacted regulations aimed at overseeing AI development, with Newsom suggesting that California's laws could serve as a model for national policymakers.

Critics assert that Trump's order undermines states' rights and their ability to establish essential protections for their residents. Julie Scelfo from the advocacy group Mothers Against Media Addiction emphasized the importance of state laws in providing necessary safeguards in the absence of robust federal regulations.