TRUMP says he’ll sign executive order curbing state AI rules

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 -Donald J. Trump has announced that he will sign an executive order this week to impose a single nationwide standard for regulating artificial intelligence — overriding state-level rules that have begun to proliferate across the United States. 

Trump argued that companies cannot be expected to comply with “50 Approvals every time they want to do something,” calling instead for “one rulebook” to preserve U.S. competitiveness in the global AI race.

According to a draft of the order, the plan would empower the U.S. Department of Justice to challenge state AI laws deemed “burdensome,” and could even threaten to withhold certain federal funds from states which enact restrictive AI regulations. 

The move comes after Congress twice failed this year to pass legislation that would pre‑empt state AI rules — a rejection that left a vacuum for states to impose their own standards.

Supporters inside big tech and the AI industry argue that a unified federal framework will streamline compliance and accelerate innovation — but critics warn the order could undercut state efforts to safeguard privacy, ethical AI use, and consumer protection. 

As the order materializes and legal challenges loom, America may be on the brink of a major shift in who shapes the rules of AI.