Trump Signs Executive Order for Voluntary AI Security Vetting

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 2, 2026, titled "Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security," which establishes a voluntary framework for the federal government to vet advanced AI systems for national security risks. The order allows agencies to review "covered frontier models" for up to 30 days before their public release. This period was reduced from an initial 90-day proposal following lobbying from tech leaders and advisors who argued longer reviews would hinder U.S. competitiveness against China.

The initiative was prompted by the emergence of cyber-capable models such as Anthropic's Claude Mythos. Under the order, the National Security Agency will lead a classified benchmarking process to designate which models require scrutiny. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury Department will establish an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse to coordinate vulnerability patching with the private sector, while the Department of Justice is directed to prioritize the prosecution of AI-assisted cybercrimes.

To protect innovation and free speech, the order explicitly prohibits the creation of mandatory government licensing or permitting requirements. Major AI developers, including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, welcomed the balance between security and innovation. However, the policy drew mixed reactions from Congress; while Senator Mark Warner supported the pre-deployment testing, Senators Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley criticized the voluntary nature of the framework as insufficient to protect Americans.