White House circulates draft executive order targeting state-level AI laws

The White House circulated a six-page draft executive order, "Removing State Law Obstacles to National AI Policy," targeting AI laws recently passed in California and Colorado, arguing that a unified, least-burdensome federal framework should replace the patchwork of state regulation. The draft requires the Attorney General to establish an AI litigation working group to challenge state laws, the Commerce Secretary to list state laws that conflict with AI dominance and tie BEAD broadband funding to states' regulatory environments, the FCC Chair to initiate a proceeding to consider federal AI reporting and disclosure standards, the FTC Chair to issue a policy statement on which state laws are preempted by FTC law, and AI and crypto special advisor David Sacks to propose unified federal framework legislation. A White House spokesperson told Politico that discussing a potential executive order is speculation; civil rights groups criticized the draft as giving tech companies a green light. Congressional Republicans are considering using the NDAA to push a pause on state AI laws.