U.S. Pursues Federal AI Framework Amid State Resistance

The United States government is attempting to establish a national framework for artificial intelligence governance using a mix of executive mandates and legislative proposals. The Trump administration has already issued an executive order focusing on AI innovation and security and banned the import of humanoid robots from China. To address global safety, the administration scheduled a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping for September to discuss international AI risks.

In Congress, bipartisan efforts aim to codify oversight. Representatives Jay Obernolte and Lori Trahan introduced the FRONTIER Act to ensure transparency for frontier AI systems, while Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal proposed the AI Risk Evaluation Act, which would mandate risk assessments for advanced models before they are deployed.

Despite these efforts, federal progress is stalled by a conflict over regulatory authority. More than 250 state lawmakers are opposing federal preemption, fighting to protect existing state-level AI laws in jurisdictions such as California, New York, and Illinois.