Lawmakers appear keen on agencies such as CISA and NIST taking more leading roles in evaluating AI security risks and setting safety standards.
Lawmakers are pushing for more government action around artificial intelligence standards and security, as well as disclosures when agencies use AI to make critical decisions.
Members of Congress rolled out more AI proposals this week, as they stake out priorities for how to address the fast-moving technology ahead of the midterm elections. Meanwhile, members of the Trump administration’s recently established a “Super Intelligence” task force were reportedly slated to meet Thursday, as they shape the administration’s approach to AI risks.
Lawmakers appear keen on agencies such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards Technology taking more leading roles in AI safety and security. Neither CISA nor NIST have been listed as members of the Trump administration’s super intelligence task force. But both agencies have featured in other AI legislation introduced in recent weeks
A bill reintroduced Thursday by House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Rep. Troy Carter, Sr. (D-La.) would require CISA to establish a task force on AI security.
The task force would coordinate CISA’s AI-related directives and activities, while advising the agency’s stakeholders on potential AI deployment risks. It would also provide biannual briefings to lawmakers on its activities.
“Advancements in AI technology are expanding by the day and we need to make sure our cybersecurity defenses are moving with it,” Thompson said.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released an AI framework on Wednesday that would have NIST set AI standards for frontier models.
“Frontier AI systems require constant oversight and vigilance at home and abroad,” Cantwell’s office said in a statement. “The United States should establish clear, transparent, enforceable safety standards, developed by federal experts at NIST in coordination with other relevant federal agencies. Covered models should not be released until they have undergone an independent audit confirming that they meet these safeguards and standards.”
Meanwhile, a bipartisan bill in the Senate would require agencies to notify the public when they interact with AI and other automated systems. It would require the same transparency when agencies make a critical decision about an individual using an “AI-augmented decision process.”
The bill, released earlier this week by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) would require the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance on those transparency practices.
Their bill would also require agencies to establish a redress process that includes human reviews when individuals receive an “adverse critical decision” from a federal AI system.
“The federal government can and should thoughtfully integrate new technology to help improve customer service for Americans. But agencies should be transparent about when, where, and how we are interacting with AI to ensure continuous oversight and accountability for how these tools impact Americans,” Lankford said.
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