President Trump is weighing an executive order to block states from regulating artificial intelligence, a move that would be a boon to his tech industry allies and likely generate fierce bipartisan criticism.
The Trump administration’s draft executive order would instruct Attorney General Pam Bondi to create a task force to challenge state AI laws and restrict federal funding for states with “onerous” AI laws, according to a draft copy of the order obtained by National Review.
Bondi’s task force would evaluate whether certain AI regulations unconstitutionally regulate interstate commerce or violate the law in other ways. The panel would also explore whether federal regulations pre-empt the state-level laws. It would consult with multiple Trump administration policy advisers including AI and crypto czar David Sacks, an opponent of AI regulation.
Additionally, the executive order instructs Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to review “onerous” regulations within 90 days and restrict broadband funding to states whose laws fit the criteria. The directive also asks the Federal Communications Commission to work with Sacks on developing an AI reporting rule.
Moreover, the Trump administration’s draft order tells Sacks and the Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs to draft legislation establishing a federal AI regulatory framework to take precedent over stringent state regulations.Earlier this week, Trump endorsed a nascent congressional push to enact a moratorium on state AI regulations paired with a federal regulatory framework. His announcement came after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R., La.) told Punchbowl News that lawmakers were considering the possibility of attaching the ban on state AI regulations into the annual defense policy bill.
Trump’s statement drew praise from tech industry leaders and policy experts opposed to AI regulations. But it received criticism from Republican Governors and congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
“There should not be a moratorium on states rights for AI. States must retain the right to regulate and make laws on AI and anything else for the benefit of their state. Federalism must be preserved,” Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.), said Thursday morning.
Greene is not the only MAGA champion to speak out against it. Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.), political commentator Steve Bannon, and MAGA activist Mike Davis have spoken out against it.
Several Democratic Senators have indicated the AI regulatory pre-emption would be dead-on-arrival if it reaches the chamber. House Armed Services Committee chairman Mike Rogers (R., Ga.) also shot down the possibility the AI regulatory moratorium gets attached to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Earlier this year, Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) tried unsuccessfully to put an AI regulatory moratorium into the GOP’s mammoth tax and budget bill. The Senate voted overwhelmingly to derail Cruz’s push and remove the moratorium after Senator Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) led a bipartisan revolt against it.
“This unlawful Executive Order would attack states for enacting AI guardrails that protect consumers, children, and creators—including by threatening high-speed internet for rural communities. This was already rejected by the Senate 99 to 1, and it must be rejected again,” Senator Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) said of the potential executive order.
Support for AI safety has become a bipartisan cause on the state and national level. Proponents of AI safety agree on the need for baseline AI safeguards, especially in realms where children are using the cutting-edge technology.
By National Review – https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/attorney-clevenger/
