WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday directing federal agencies to accelerate cybersecurity upgrades for advanced artificial intelligence systems while emphasizing collaboration with private industry over new regulations.
The order reinforces the administration’s approach of reducing bureaucratic hurdles on AI development to maintain U.S. global leadership in the technology. It establishes new priorities for hardening government and critical infrastructure systems against cyber threats posed by evolving AI capabilities.
“The United States continues to lead the world in Artificial Intelligence (AI) because of the enormous talent and innovation of our AI industry, and because we refuse to stifle this innovation with overly burdensome regulation,” the order states.
Trump’s action comes as advanced AI models, often called frontier models, raise both opportunities and national security concerns. The order directs swift action to protect national security systems and civilian federal networks while creating voluntary partnerships with AI developers.
Key provisions require action within 30 days on several fronts. The Committee on National Security Systems and the Department of War must prioritize cyber defenses for their systems. The Department of Homeland Security, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, must issue binding directives to strengthen civilian federal systems, expand AI-enabled defensive tools, and extend cybersecurity support to state and local governments and critical infrastructure operators.
The order also calls for the creation of an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse in collaboration with industry to identify and patch software vulnerabilities.
Within 60 days, officials including the secretaries of Treasury, War, and Homeland Security must develop a classified benchmarking process to identify “covered frontier models” with significant cyber capabilities. A voluntary framework would allow developers to share such models with the government for review before wider release to trusted partners, with protections for intellectual property and confidentiality.
The order explicitly states it does not create any mandatory licensing or preclearance requirements for AI development or release.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is directed to prioritize enforcement of federal computer crime laws against those using AI for unauthorized access, data theft or other illegal activities.
The order builds on previous Trump administration AI initiatives, including efforts to promote AI education, export American AI technology and establish a national policy framework.
