The White House announced a major shift in federal artificial intelligence policy on Monday, directing all government agencies to appoint Chief AI Officers and create comprehensive strategies for AI adoption, marking a significant departure from prior efforts aimed at regulating the technology.
The directive, issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), emphasizes a “pro-innovation” approach to AI and rescinds two previous orders from the Biden administration. Those earlier directives focused on safeguarding civil rights and increasing transparency in the use of AI, as well as placing restrictions on how government agencies could procure AI systems.
“Agencies must adopt a forward-leaning and pro-innovation approach that takes advantage of this technology to help shape the future of government operations,” the OMB memo stated.
Under the new policy, agencies are required to implement minimum-risk practices for AI systems deemed high-impact and to draft generative AI policies in the coming months. Additionally, they must identify and eliminate barriers to responsible AI use and work toward enterprise-wide improvements in the maturity of AI applications within six months.
The administration said it aims to streamline the government’s AI adoption process by eliminating “unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions” and promoting efficient procurement practices. A separate directive emphasized the importance of interoperability and encouraged the use of “American-made AI” solutions.
President Donald Trump, who returned to office earlier this year, has already revoked a 2023 executive order signed by former President Joe Biden that required AI developers to share safety data with the government in an effort to manage AI-related risks.
The new policy also removes several reporting obligations that were previously imposed on agencies, which the administration described as burdensome. However, officials maintained that protecting privacy and ensuring responsible use of AI will remain a priority.
Several federal agencies have already begun integrating AI into their operations. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration has been utilizing machine learning and language models to analyze incident reports and identify recurring safety risks across aviation data sources.
The shift signals a broader effort by the administration to harness artificial intelligence for greater efficiency and innovation within the federal government, while reducing regulatory barriers to its deployment.
