Former President Donald Trump advocates for a unified federal standard for regulating artificial intelligence to prevent over-regulation by individual states.
Former President Donald Trump expressed concerns on Tuesday regarding the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States. He emphasized the necessity for a single federal standard to govern AI, warning that a fragmented approach could stifle innovation.
“Overregulation by the States is threatening to undermine this Growth Engine,” Trump stated in a social media post. He urged the need for a cohesive federal framework rather than a “patchwork of 50 State Regulatory Regimes.”
The current regulatory landscape in the United States has been characterized by a cautious, sector-focused approach aimed at balancing innovation with risk management. Various federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), have issued guidelines to promote transparency, safety, and non-discrimination in AI systems.
In contrast to the European Union, which has implemented a comprehensive AI regulatory framework through the EU AI Act, the U.S. lacks a sweeping federal law governing AI as of 2025. While the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has released guidance on ethical AI and risk assessment, these standards are not universally enforced across all sectors.
Congress has held hearings to address the risks associated with AI technologies, such as deepfakes, bias, and autonomous systems. However, no significant federal legislation regarding liability or safety has been enacted thus far. Consequently, the U.S. regulatory approach heavily relies on state-level regulations and public-private partnerships to ensure AI safety and transparency.
The collaboration between federal agencies, private industry, and academic institutions is a cornerstone of the U.S. approach to AI regulation. This strategy aims to foster innovation while addressing the risks associated with advanced technologies. States like California have taken the lead in implementing regulations that mandate transparency in AI models, safety incident reporting, and protections for whistleblowers.
Despite these advancements at the state level, the timeline and scope of future federal legislation remain uncertain. Ongoing debates focus on whether to introduce mandatory federal standards or liability frameworks for AI technologies.
In his recent social media post, Trump called on lawmakers to consider incorporating the federal standard into a separate bill or including it in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a key piece of defense policy legislation.
As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into daily life, the demand for clear and consistent regulatory frameworks is more critical than ever. Ensuring that AI systems operate safely, transparently, and without bias is essential for maintaining public trust, particularly in high-stakes sectors such as healthcare, finance, and national security.
State-level innovations, including mandatory reporting of AI-related safety incidents and whistleblower protections, serve as practical examples of how effective oversight can be achieved without hindering innovation.
However, the ongoing discussions surrounding a unified federal AI standard underscore the tension between the need for uniformity and the desire for flexibility. While a national framework could simplify compliance and reduce conflicting regulations across states, the specifics of such legislation and its potential impact on innovation remain unclear.
As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, the balance between technological leadership and public safety will be crucial in guiding the responsible deployment of AI technologies.
Source: Original article