Trump's missed AI deadlines
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Key deadlines set out in President Trump's executive order targeting state AI laws have passed, with agencies failing to deliver on major steps that were due more than a month ago.
Why it matters: The missed deadlines are raising doubts about how forcefully the administration can follow through on its push to rein in states on AI regulation.
Driving the news: Three provisions that were due on March 11 per the December order have not been completed or publicly announced.
- The Federal Trade Commission was supposed to issue guidance on how consumer protection law applies to AI, including when it could override state laws that "alter truthful outputs."
- The Commerce Department was due to review and publish an evaluation of state AI laws and flag "onerous" ones to the Justice Department's AI Litigation Task Force that conflict with federal policy.
- Commerce was also ordered to set rules tying broadband funding to state AI laws, potentially cutting off funds to states with certain regulations.
The Federal Communications Commission is also tasked with considering a national AI reporting and transparency standard measure preempting conflicting state laws, but not until 90 days after those laws are identified.
What they're saying: "President Trump is ensuring the United States of America leads the world in Artificial Intelligence," White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement. "The Trump Administration has implemented many bold and successful policy initiatives to advance the President's objectives."
- A White House official added that there will be more progress in the weeks and months ahead.
- "Our policy statement will come out very soon," FTC director of public affairs Joseph Simonson wrote in an email.
- Spokespeople for the FCC and Commerce did not respond to requests for comment.
The big picture: "The Trump administration is still very much trying to find its footing when it comes to regulating AI, and rhetorically, they have adopted a position that is very pro-deregulation. But that doesn't tell the whole story," said Matthew Ferraro, a partner at Crowell & Moring.
- Tech companies and state legislators have been especially eager to see what state-level laws the DOJ task force are going to go after, especially as the White House intervenes in red states to alter AI bills they don't like and dozens of states continue to consider AI and chatbot legislation across the country.
Between the lines: The White House calls to state legislators are creating an ad-hoc, whack-a-mole approach to legislative cohesion in the place of an actual federal policy.
Reality check: These are tough assignments on a tight timeline for agencies looking to come up with novel policies that will stand up in court.
The intrigue: One key part of the order, a legislative recommendation for a uniform, federal AI policy framework preempting state laws, came out last month.
- More a list of priorities than a concrete, prescriptive plan, it's a four-page starting point meant for Congress to see through and sent to the president's desk.
- As Axios previously reported, it will be difficult for congressional Republicans to square everything the White House wants in one bill that gets bipartisan support.
- House Republicans this week unveiled data privacy bills and said they plan to tackle AI next, noting is still a major priority this Congress.
The bottom line: Without forward motion from the agencies or lawmakers, one of the biggest Trump administration AI priorities of knocking down state-level AI laws remains a distant goal.
