Trump Signs 30-Day AI Vetting Order as White House Drops 90-Day Review Plan
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Jun 2
Trump Signs 30-Day AI Vetting Order as White House Drops 90-Day Review Plan
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Jun 2
A voluntary framework signed Tuesday asks AI labs to submit frontier models for security review up to 30 days before public release, giving the US and selected trusted partners early access.
The order was diluted from a draft that sought a 90-day review after Trump allies and AI investors argued tougher oversight could slow OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and broader US competitiveness.
Security concerns still drove the move: officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, warned that Anthropic’s upcoming Mythos model can identify and exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
The compromise reflects deep MAGA infighting, with some officials pushing drug-style pre-approval for powerful models while the administration now stresses the order is not a new regulatory burden.
The policy underscores Washington’s attempt to balance AI leadership with cyber defense as agencies, banks and other experts race to assess frontier models before wider release.
With the government demanding access to AI, how can tech companies protect their most valuable trade secrets?
How can businesses navigate the legal maze of conflicting federal and state AI regulations?
U.S. AI Regulation in 2026: Federal Preemption, State Resistance, and the Uncertain Future of AI Oversight
Overview
In May 2026, the Trump administration postponed an executive order that would have required federal agencies to review advanced AI models before their release, following intense internal debate over national security and competition with China. President Trump worried that strict regulations could hurt U.S. innovation, leading to a reversal of the administration’s earlier hands-off approach and creating uncertainty about future AI policy. The draft order had aimed to introduce oversight for powerful AI systems and expand cybersecurity efforts, but its delay has left AI developers and the market waiting for clear direction on the government’s next steps.