According to Wired, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, December 11, 2025, titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence.” The order creates an AI litigation task force within the Justice Department to challenge state AI laws deemed to conflict with federal policy. It also directs the Commerce Department to craft guidelines that could make states ineligible for future broadband funding if they pass “onerous” AI rules. The push was fueled by AI investors and tech trade groups, with White House adviser David Sacks as a key proponent. Trump stated the goal is to have “one central source of approval,” arguing that navigating 50 state laws is impractical. The order specifically calls out Colorado’s SB24-205, which limits algorithmic discrimination, as an attempt to “embed ideological bias.”
Federal Power Play
Here’s the thing: this is a classic federal preemption move, but with a modern, tech-lobby twist. The administration is basically saying the patchwork of state laws is too messy for the fast-moving AI industry. And they’re not just talking about it—they’re setting up a dedicated task force at the DOJ to sue states. That’s a pretty aggressive enforcement mechanism. The broadband funding threat is another heavy stick. It ties infrastructure money, which every state wants, directly to regulatory compliance. That’s a powerful way to get states to fall in line, maybe even before they draft a law.
The Carveout Conundrum
Now, the order does have a few carveouts. It asks Congress not to preempt state laws about kids’ safety, data center infrastructure, or state government AI procurement. But that feels… selective. Who defines what a “kids’ safety” law is? And promoting data centers is a huge win for the tech industry’s physical infrastructure needs. It seems like the exceptions are for areas where the federal government either doesn’t want the headache (child protection) or actively wants more investment (data centers). For everything else—especially laws tackling bias, safety, and accountability—the message is clear: stand down.
State Laws in the Crosshairs
So which laws are actually threatened? Colorado’s anti-discrimination bill is explicitly named. But California’s law requiring safety frameworks from big tech and New York’s pending bill with massive civil penalties are clearly in the crosshairs too. The New York situation is especially telling. Governor Hochul is reportedly considering amendments that could weaken the bill significantly. You have to wonder if this EO is already having its intended chilling effect, causing state leaders to second-guess their legislation before it’s even challenged in court. The threat alone might be enough to stifle innovation in regulation.
Skepticism and Stakes
I think there’s a real risk here. The argument for a single national standard sounds efficient, but it often leads to a race to the bottom, governed by the most powerful lobbyists. The states have historically been “laboratories of democracy,” testing approaches that the federal government later adopts. Shutting that down could mean missing important solutions. And let’s be skeptical about the “common sense” Trump mentioned. When an order is this heavily influenced by industry advisors like David Sacks, whose goal is a “light-touch” approach, whose common sense are we talking about? The full text of the order is available on the White House site, and it’s worth a look. The battle over who gets to control the rules for our AI-powered future is now officially, and messily, underway.
