White House issues national AI framework to preempt state rules

The White House on Friday released a national artificial intelligence framework intended to preempt state AI laws, set federal requirements for child online safety and address energy needs for data centers. The administration asked Congress to convert the framework into a single federal law rather than leaving regulation to individual states.

The document recommends parental controls for accounts and devices, features to counter online sexual exploitation and measures to reduce risks of self-harm. It also calls for steps to strengthen federal responses to fraud and scams that use AI tools.

On energy, the White House proposes streamlining permitting to allow electricity-intensive data centers to generate power on-site, intended to reduce strain on local grids and lower costs for communities and operators.

The plan includes proposals to build federal capabilities to detect and counter AI-generated disinformation, deepfakes and automated scams. It recommends policies to protect critical infrastructure and government systems from misuse of AI tools.

The framework addresses intellectual property rules, protections for free expression and efforts to expand training and education to develop an AI-skilled workforce. It suggests removing certain regulatory barriers to accelerate AI deployment across business sectors and to ease development of advanced systems.

The administration framed the plan as a response to the growth of varying state rules and urged a single national approach. In December, President Trump said he might withhold federal broadband funding from states whose AI rules the administration judges to hinder U.S. leadership in the technology.

The AI market has driven recent growth in the technology sector, lifting chipmaker Nvidia to the top of global market capitalization and drawing large investments from Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and Microsoft. The White House said consistent federal rules would help companies scale technologies while addressing safety and societal risks.

Michael Kratsios, science and technology adviser to President Trump, argued, “We need one national AI framework, not a 50-state patchwork.” He added that focusing on protections for children could help gain bipartisan support.

The White House said it will work with Congress to translate the framework into binding legislation. Lawmakers will weigh proposals that balance innovation, public safety, energy policy and states’ rights as they consider next steps.