Trump Unleashes "America's AI Action Plan"
The Trump administration unveiled a sweeping national strategy for artificial intelligence on Wednesday, rolling out "America's AI Action Plan," a deregulation-focused blueprint designed to propel the United States to global dominance in the field. Accompanied by three new executive orders, the plan aims to accelerate innovation by removing "burdensome" regulations, fast-tracking the construction of data centers, and promoting the export of American AI technology, all while targeting what it deems "ideological bias" in AI systems, a move that is controversial.
The 28-page plan, a culmination of a process initiated by an executive order in January, outlines more than 90 policy actions aimed at securing America's lead over competitors, particularly China. The administration's strategy prioritizes a hands-off, pro-growth approach, a move largely celebrated by Silicon Valley but criticized by watchdog groups as a corporate giveaway that sidelines safety and public accountability.
A Three-Pillar Strategy
The White House's plan is built on three core pillars: accelerating innovation, building out American AI infrastructure, and leading in international diplomacy and security. The strategy represents a significant pivot from the previous administration's more cautious, safety-oriented framework, which the Trump administration has actively dismantled.
To spur innovation, the plan calls for a significant reduction in federal "red tape" and asks the private sector to identify regulations that hinder the development of AI. It also encourages open-source AI development and incentivizes private sector research and experimentation.
"It's a global contest now to lead in artificial intelligence. And we aim for the United States to triumph in that competition."
— David Sacks, White House AI Czar, in a press call
On infrastructure, the administration is pushing to expedite and modernize the permitting process for data centers and semiconductor fabrication plants. The plan also includes national initiatives to train more workers for high-demand jobs essential to the AI ecosystem, such as electricians and HVAC technicians.
The third pillar focuses on establishing American AI technology—including hardware, software, and standards—as the global framework for friendly nations. The Commerce and State Departments are tasked with creating secure, full-stack AI export packages to distribute to allies, positioning U.S. technology as the worldwide standard.
The War on "Woke AI"
A central and highly politicized element of the new strategy is a directive to combat "woke AI". President Trump signed an executive order titled "PREVENT WOKE AI IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT," which mandates that federal agencies only acquire AI models that are "objective and free from top-down ideological bias".
The order explicitly targets what it calls "the most widespread and harmful" ideologies, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. It asserts that large language models (LLMs) procured by the government must act as "neutral, nonpartisan instruments" that do not favor any particular ideology unless specifically prompted by a user.
"The development of AI systems in America must be devoid of ideological bias or crafted social agendas."
— The White House AI Action Plan
This initiative is modeled after a first-term executive order aimed at combating alleged censorship and reflects the administration's broader campaign against DEI policies. Critics, however, view this as an ideological maneuver by the White House to inject its own political agenda into the development of technology.
Rolling Back Regulations and Sidestepping Safeguards
The Trump administration's pro-innovation stance involves a systematic reversal of Biden-era AI policies. Upon taking office, President Trump revoked an executive order issued in 2023 that had established safeguards to mitigate AI risks, including a requirement for developers to share safety testing data. The new plan continues this trend, removing rules that mandated protections for individual rights and transparency in the government's use of AI.
This approach has been met with praise from the tech industry but has drawn sharp criticism from consumer advocates and some policy experts. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, labeled the plan "a corporate giveaway," arguing it prioritizes corporate profits over public safety and allows Big Tech to operate without accountability.
Experts have also noted that the plan largely overlooks critical issues, such as copyright and model transparency. Some warn that by sidestepping safety precautions and overlooking the impact of research funding cuts and visa restrictions for scientists, the administration could undermine its own goals and erode public trust in the technology.
A Potential Clash with the States
The administration's plan also sets the stage for a potential conflict with states that have moved to regulate AI on their own. The document suggests that the federal government could withhold AI-related funding from states with "burdensome AI regulations that waste these funds".
This punitive measure is designed to discourage states from passing their own laws on AI ethics, equity, or content standards that the administration deems overly restrictive to innovation. While the plan states it will not interfere with states' rights to pass "prudent laws," it gives the federal Office of Management and Budget the authority to limit funding for states whose regulations might "impede the effectiveness of that funding".
The Global AI Race
Underpinning the entire strategy is the administration's belief that the U.S. is in an urgent "race for AI" against global adversaries, most notably China. Officials have repeatedly framed AI dominance as a matter of both national security and economic prosperity.
"This is a watershed day for Trump to lay out the AI vision and make sure the U.S. stays ahead of China despite all the trade deal turmoil."
— Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities analyst, in an email to CBS MoneyWatch
Scholars in the field believe that whichever nation wins the race to develop advanced AI will gain an exponential and perhaps insurmountable advantage, impacting everything from military capabilities to economic competitiveness. The administration's plan is explicitly designed to ensure that the United States is the victor in this high-stakes contest.
As the U.S. forges ahead with this aggressive, industry-friendly AI strategy, the long-term consequences remain to be seen. The plan's success will depend not only on its ability to accelerate technological innovation but also on its capacity to manage the complex ethical, social, and security challenges that AI presents. The coming months will reveal how this deregulatory push shapes the future of artificial intelligence in the United States and globally.