The White House released its AI Action Plan identifying over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating innovation; building American AI infrastructure; and leading in international diplomacy and security. President Trump also signed three Executive Orders facilitating data center development, imposing export controls, and prohibiting “woke” policies impacting AI innovation. 

Over the weekend, China released a global AI action plan for international cooperation on tech development and regulation, in addition to proposing a global organization focused on AI cooperation. Reaction from the White House centered on making American technology the global standard. 

The House left town early for the August recess last week, seeking to avoid further Epstein-related blowback. The Senate is still in session, holding hearings this week on AI in capital markets and safeguarding PII.

Read more below

Congress

Hearings

• Last week
  • On July 22, the House Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Fully Operational: Stuxnet 15 Years Later and the Evolution of Cyber Threats to Critical Infrastructure.
  • On July 22, the House Oversight and Government Reform Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Bipartisan Roundtable: Artificial Intelligence in the Real World.
• This week
  • On July 30, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Securities, Insurance, and Investment Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Guardrails and Growth: AI’s Role in Capital and Insurance Markets.
  • On July 30, the Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee holds a hearing on Protecting the Virtual You: Safeguarding Americans’ Online Data.

Legislation

• Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act to prohibit AI companies from training AI or generating AI content using copyright works without permission, create a federal tort for data misuse, require companies to disclose every third party that will access an individual’s data at the time consent is sought, and ensure financial penalties, injunctive relief, and private right of action and class action. (Press release)

• Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Preventing Recurring Online Abuse of Children Through Intentional Vetting of Artificial Intelligence (PROACTIV AI) Data Act, to encourage artificial intelligence developers to identify, remove, and report known child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from the datasets they compile or obtain for use in training AI models to help proactively stop AI image generators from creating child pornography. (Press release)

• Reps. Greg Casar (D-TX) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the Stop AI Price Gouging and Wage Fixing Act to prohibit companies from using AI to set prices or wages based on Americans’ personal data. (Press release)

• Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) introduced a bill to prohibit AI-based impersonation of Federal officials. (Text)

• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the Responding to Exploitation and Sharing of Private Explicit Content and Threats (RESPECT) Act to enhance the TAKE IT DOWN Act by imposing enhanced criminal penalties for publishing or threatening to publish non-consensual intimate imagery and sexual content involving minors. (Press release)

• Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced the Building Resilient Innovation, Digital Growth, and Entrepreneurship with Africa Act (BRIDGE Africa Act) to strengthen technology and artificial intelligence partnerships between the United States and key African nations. (Press release)

Correspondence

• Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) sent letters to the CEOs of Alphabet, Anthropic, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and xAI, urging they reject President Trump’s AI Action Plan and executive order that prohibits federal agencies from contracting for any artificial intelligence algorithm that is not “free from top-down ideological bias.” (Letters)(Press release)

• Reps. Mark Alford (R-MO), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Robert Wittman (R-VA), John McGuire (R-VA), Ben Cline (R-VA), and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging him to limit foreign adversaries’ ability to develop frontier AI and enable American companies to compete quickly in the global marketplace. (Letter) 

• Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), James Lankford (R-OK), Jon Ossoff (D-GA) John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CO), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) sent a letter to Elon Musk seeking information about recent antisemitic statements produced by Grok, xAI’s chatbot. (Letter)

• Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford requesting information about the agency using artificial intelligence to analyze safety data to identify risks. (Letter)

• Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mark Warner (D-VA) sent a letter to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian seeking information about the company’s plans to use AI to set individualized, surveillance-based fares. (Letter)

Publications and Events

• The New Democrat Coalition Innovation & Technology Working Group, led by Working Group Chair Sam Liccardo (D-CA), AI Task Force Chair Valerie Foushee (D-NC), and Digital Assets Task Force Chair Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), unveiled the New Dem Innovation Agenda, a platform to “spur groundbreaking research, create new businesses and jobs, and help more people achieve the American Dream.” (Agenda)(Press release)

• Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on “The Data Center Next Door: Hidden Costs and Harms of Artificial Intelligence and Cryptomining” to discuss the effects of rapid data center development on climate and communities. Markey also released a publication detailing stories of people impacted by data centers. (Press release)(Storybook)

Trump Administration

White House

• The White House released its AI Action Plan, “Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan” in accordance with President Trump’s January executive order on Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI. The Plan identifies over 90 Federal policy actions across three pillars – Accelerating Innovation, Building American AI Infrastructure, and Leading in International Diplomacy and Security – that the Trump Administration will take in the coming weeks and months. The White House also introduced a revamped AI.gov website. (AI.gov)(Action Plan Pillars)(Action Plan Report)

• President Trump signed three Executive Orders:
  • Executive Order on Promoting the Export of the American AI Technology Stack to establish an AI exports program and federal financing to support priority AI export packages. (EO)(Fact sheet)
  • Executive Order on Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure to launch an initiative to provide financial support for qualifying projects, revoke President Biden’s January 14 Executive Order Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure, create new categorical exclusions for environmental reviews, streamline permitting, and authorize development on federal sites. (EO)(Fact sheet)
  • Executive Order on Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government to establish a policy of unbiased AI principles in innovation and direct OMB to issue guidance to agencies implementing unbiased AI principles. (EO)(Fact sheet)

Department of Energy (DOE)

• DOE announced the selection of four sites, Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and Savannah River Site, for public/private partnerships to develop AI data centers and energy generation projects. (Press release)  

Noteworthy Quotes and Events

ADMINISTRATION

Department of Energy (DOE)

• In announcing federal sites for AI data center development, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said,”By leveraging DOE land assets for the deployment of AI and energy infrastructure, we are taking a bold step to accelerate the next Manhattan Project—ensuring U.S. AI and energy leadership. These sites are uniquely positioned to host data centers as well as power generation to bolster grid reliability, strengthen our national security, and reduce energy costs.” (Press release)  

White House

• On the AI Action Plan, AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks said, “Artificial intelligence is a revolutionary technology with the potential to transform the global economy and alter the balance of power in the world. To remain the leading economic and military power, the United States must win the AI race. Recognizing this, President Trump directed us to produce this Action Plan. To win the AI race, the U.S. must lead in innovation, infrastructure, and global partnerships. At the same time, we must center American workers and avoid Orwellian uses of AI. This Action Plan provides a roadmap for doing that.”

• Sacks also tweeted a thread highlighting the week in federal AI policy, saying:
  • “This was a historic week for AI policy. President Trump gave his first major speech on AI, the White House released its AI Action Plan, and President Trump signed three important executive orders. If you missed it, here is a recap of the major themes and actions.
    
  • 1/ America is in an AI Race. Reminiscent of the way that President John F. Kennedy declared the space race, President Trump declared that America is in an AI race. This competition will reshape the global economy and determine who will be the superpowers of the 21st century: “Whether we like it or not, we are suddenly engaged in a fast-paced competition to build and refine this groundbreaking technology that will determine so much about the future of civilization.” President Trump assured America that we will do “whatever it takes” to win this contest that is so vital to our future economic prosperity and national security: “America is the country that started the AI race, and as President of the United States, I’m here today to declare that America is going to win it.”
    
  • 2/ We win by out-innovating our competitors. President Trump declared that innovation was the key to winning the AI race. “America must once again be a country where innovators are rewarded with a green light, not strangled with red tape.” As the AI industry is just getting started, President Trump made clear that he wanted to see it grow and thrive: “We’re going to make this industry absolutely the top because right now, it’s a beautiful baby that’s born. We have to grow that baby and let that baby thrive.” President Trump promised to push back against state over-regulation, maintaining that we need one regulatory regime on AI, not 50 different ones. “You can’t have one state holding you up… We need one common sense federal standard that supersedes all states… We’re going to have one standard, one policy, one idea.” Similarly, President Trump rejected onerous regulations by global institutions: “We also have to watch Europe, Asia, and all foreign countries so that they don’t make rules and regulations that make it impossible for you to do business.” Finally, President Trump endorsed a common sense approach to intellectual property. He reaffirmed that AI models aren’t allowed to plagiarize outputs, but said that model training on inputs do not violate copyright law. “You can’t be expected to have a successful AI program when every single article, book, or anything else that you’ve read or studied, you’re supposed to pay for. We appreciate that, but just can’t do it—because it’s not doable.”
    
  • 3/ Infrastructure is everything. Expanding upon the $92 billion of AI infrastructure investments that he announced in Pittsburgh on July 15, President Trump called for a massive buildout of AI data centers, chip manufacturing plants, and new power generation. He signed the first executive order of the day to eliminate red tape in the permitting and building process for this infrastructure. Because AI is very energy-intensive, he noted, AI dominance requires energy dominance. The President reiterated his long-held (and far-sighted) belief that we must unleash American energy — “drill, baby, drill” and “build, baby, build”. “My administration will use every tool at our disposal to ensure the U.S. can build and maintain the largest, most powerful and most advanced AI infrastructure anywhere on the planet… New data centers, semiconductor and chip manufacturing facilities, new power plants.” President Trump noted the job creation — especially blue-collar jobs — that would result: “The colossal investment in AI infrastructure will also create thousands of great paying jobs, including blue collar jobs. It will mean higher wages and more opportunity for energy workers, HVAC technicians, engineers, electricians, and hardworking citizens all across our land.”
    
  • 4/ Export the American tech stack to win. President Trump affirmed that winning the AI race means that the world runs on the American technology stack, rather than China’s. “The last administration was obsessed with imposing restrictions on AI, including extreme restrictions on its exports. As you know, they made it very difficult to export. This alienated American partners and drove even our friends into the arms of China and other countries.” “Under my administration, we will maintain necessary protections for our national security, but we will never forget that the greatest threat of all is to forfeit the race and force our partners into rival technology. We’re not going to do that.” That’s why President Trump signed a second executive order promoting the export of the American AI technology stack. “The Commerce and State Departments will partner with industry to deliver secure, full-stack AI export packages – including hardware, models, software, applications, and standards – to America’s friends.” This pro-export strategy builds on the historic deals that President Trump signed with the Gulf States on his Middle East trip in May.
    
  • 5/ Preventing WokeAI. We must win the AI race, but it matters how we win. Our victory over China will be a Pyrrhic one if we allow our own models to enforce ideological bias, censorship, and historical revisionism akin to CCP AI. That’s why President Trump signed a third executive order banning the use of “Woke AI” by the federal government. This order discourages tech companies from writing DEI into their models the way the Biden administration had encouraged them to. “The American people do not want woke Marxist lunacy in their AI models — and neither do other countries. From now on, the U.S. government will deal only with AI that pursues truth, fairness, and strict impartiality.”
    
  • 6/ Putting America First. Winning the right way also requires putting the interest of Americans, especially the American worker, at the center of everything we do in AI. The President had some “hard talk” for Silicon Valley tech companies who had pushed outsourcing and offshoring as relentlessly as any industry. President Trump exhorted Silicon Valley to “a new spirit of patriotism and national loyalty.” “For too long, much of our tech industry pursued a radical globalism that left millions of Americans feeling distrustful and betrayed… Under President Trump, those days are over. We need US technology companies to be all in for America. We want you to put America first. You have to do that. That’s all we ask.”
    
  • 7/ Acknowledging sensible risk mitigation. Although we want a light touch on AI regulations, President Trump made clear that we do not intend to ignore the risks of this revolutionary technological power. We can monitor risks, and secure our edge, without stifling innovation. “We will prevent our advanced technologies from being misused or stolen by malicious actors.” “As with any such breakthrough,” President Trump acknowledged, “this technology brings the potential for bad as well as for good, for peril as well as for progress. But the daunting power of AI is… not going to be a reason for retreat from this new frontier. On the contrary, it is the more reason we must ensure it is pioneered first and best” in the United States.
    
  • 8/ A Spirit of Optimism and the New Golden Age. Overall, the most striking aspect of the President’s speech was the optimism about America reflected throughout it. He reminded America of its proud history as the world’s greatest innovator and a mighty engine of prosperity and freedom. “This is the nation that invented the light bulb, the telegraph, the computer chip, the smart phone, the GPS, the integrated circuit, and the internet. “Americans were the first to fly a plane, first to harness the atom, and first to plant our flag on the moon. We mastered the Industrial Age, we created the Digital Age, and now we are leading the world into the golden age, indeed, the golden age of America. “With your help, that golden age will be built by American workers. It will be powered by American energy. It will be run on American technology, improved by American artificial intelligence. And it will make America richer, stronger, greater, freer, and more powerful than ever before.” Thank you, President Trump, for leading so boldly on this great challenge and opportunity for the American people, and giving us the roadmap and the tools we need to once again “DOMINATE the future.” It is an honor to follow you along the clear path to victory you laid out this week, and into the new Golden Age for America that will result from it.”

• About China’s AI Action Plan, Sacks tweeted, “The AI race is on. China followed the Trump Administration in releasing its own AI Action Plan. Its emphasis: international cooperation. China wants to spread its technology across the world on a ‘Digital Silk Road.’ The Biden Administration foolishly enabled this; its so-called Diffusion Rule stymied American AI exports. Under President Trump’s leadership, we now have a new policy of promoting AI exports and making American technology the global standard.”

• Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio said, “Winning the AI Race is non-negotiable. America must continue to be the dominant force in artificial intelligence to promote prosperity and protect our economic and national security. President Trump recognized this at the beginning of his administration and took decisive action by commissioning this AI Action Plan. These clear-cut policy goals set expectations for the Federal Government to ensure America sets the technological gold standard worldwide, and that the world continues to run on American technology.”

• OSTP Director Michael Kratsios said he believe NIST should focus more on standards for AI and less on model safety evaluation, “To me, I think we need to go back to basics at NIST, and back to basics around what NIST exists for, and that is to promulgate best-in-class standards and do critical metrology or measurement science around AI models.” He added, “We need to be able to be in a position where we’re all talking the same language around how you do an eval. What does a good eval look like? I think all those sort of sector-specific evals will be possible if we’re able to actually do a much better job on defining what the standards are around evals more broadly.” (AIScoop)

•  Kratsios tweeted, “Today the WhiteHouse released America’s AI Action Plan to win the global race. We need to OUT-INNOVATE our competitors, BUILD AI & energy infrastructure, & EXPORT American AI around the world. Visit http://AI.gov”

• About China’s AI Action Plan, Kratsios tweeted, “China’s just-released AI Action Plan has a section that drives at a fundamental difference between our approaches to AI: whether the public or private sector should lead in AI innovation. I like America’s odds of success.”

• The White House tweeted, “’America is the country that started the AI race. And as President of the United States, I’m here today to declare that America is going to win it.’ –President Donald J. Trump”

• The White House also tweeted, “’My Administration will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that the United States can build and maintain the largest, most powerful, and most advanced A.I. infrastructure anywhere on the planet.’”

National Science Foundation (NSF)

• Acting NSF Director Brian Stone said of the White House’s AI Action Plan, “The White House’s AI Action Plan sends a clear message: the United States is all-in on winning the future of artificial intelligence. This road map removes barriers to American innovation and reaffirms our commitment to seizing the opportunities of AI to advance economic competitiveness and national security. At the U.S. National Science Foundation, we’re proud to have a critical role in realizing this future. Over the coming weeks, NSF will unveil a series of major initiatives that align with this momentum, including: New NSF AI Research Institutes to accelerate breakthroughs in foundational AI and the application of AI to health, education, chemistry and materials science; A partnership to create a large language model infrastructure to develop cutting-edge capabilities to drive AI for science; AI Testbeds to evaluate real-world AI systems with transparency and rigor; The next phase of the National AI Research Resource to supercharge AI innovation through access to critical computational resources, data, software and training resources. These investments will help secure U.S. leadership in AI while ensuring the benefits of this powerful technology reach across America and create more jobs. NSF stands ready to work alongside our partners in government, private industry and philanthropy to keep American innovation on the frontier where it belongs.” (Press release)

CONGRESS

AI Action Plan and Executive Orders

• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chair James Comer (R-KY) said, “President Trump’s bold leadership has once again delivered a transformative vision for America’s future in artificial intelligence. This Administration understands that AI represents the next frontier, and maintaining our technological edge is a critical priority in the years ahead. This AI Action Plan embraces AI innovation in the United States and aims to reduce barriers in the AI field to ensure America’s dominance on the international stage. The House Oversight Committee will continue to support the Trump Administration’s AI initiatives and evaluate legislative opportunities aimed at addressing the barriers and challenges preventing the federal government from fully realizing the benefits of AI.” (Press release)

• House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chair Eric Burlison (R-MO) said, “Under President Trump’s leadership, America is charting a bold course to secure global dominance in artificial intelligence. The President’s AI Action Plan embraces American innovation and takes decisive steps to eliminate bureaucratic barriers that have slowed AI progress. America has the talent, expertise, and resources to lead the world in AI but what we needed most was a president with the vision to recognize its importance for our future prosperity. Alongside President Trump’s Administration, the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs will discuss ways to effectively and responsibly harness AI to bolster the United States’ economic competitiveness, national security, and technological leadership.” (Press release)

• House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Chair Nancy Mace (R-SC) said, “President Trump’s AI Action Plan—reshaping AI regulatory frameworks, investing in infrastructure, and championing American AI values globally—is a critical step toward ensuring we win the AI race. This Administration recognizes that barriers remain, and challenges must be addressed if the government is to fully realize the benefits of this transformative technology. The Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation will continue working to ensure the entire federal government is equipped with the tools and authority needed to responsibly deploy AI at scale and unlock its full potential.” (Press release)

• Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Brett Guthrie (R-KY) said, “Today’s announcement is a major victory in our work to win the race for AI. The future of American global competitiveness, innovation, and economic growth depends on strong investments and a unified approach that promotes AI development and deployment at scale. President Trump’s ‘AI Action Plan’ is an important step toward harnessing the full power of American innovation and aligns with our Committee’s work to unleash infrastructure development and advanced manufacturing, promote a national AI framework, and safeguard Americans where existing protections fall short. Throughout this Congress, we’ve heard a clear message that to win the race for AI, we need to bring more baseload energy sources online, including natural gas, coal, hydropower, and nuclear. We cannot cede leadership in the development and deployment of AI technology to the Chinese Communist Party, which does not share our values. We look forward to continuing our work with President Trump to ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in AI development.” (Press release)

• Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) tweeted, “The White House’s AI Action Plan is a launchpad for American innovation, national competitiveness and national security. It will cut red tape and set America as the leader in the global race to build and deliver on the promises of artificial intelligence. This administration wants Americans—workers, scientists and entrepreneurs—to be at the heart of a new Golden Age. Along with our American Science Acceleration Project to speed up scientific advancements, there is mutual support for ambitious, thoughtful approaches to build AI that improves the lives of Americans.”

• Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) tweeted, “AI is the next great arena of American power, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Trump administration’s AI Action Plan unleashes our labs, cuts the red tape, and puts American innovation in the driver’s seat to win the 21st century.”

• Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) tweeted, “To stay ahead of China in the AI race, we must remove red tape, invest in a skilled workforce, and enhance and expand the power grid. I applaud POTUS’s AI Action Plan to accelerate U.S. technological innovation, fuel economic growth, and provide for our national security.”

• Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeted, “AI has tremendous potential to make everyday tasks easier, strengthen our national defense, and create high-paying American jobs. For years, I fought against the Biden administration’s heavy-handed regulations and attempts to weaponize AI as a tool for silencing free speech. President Trump understands that beating China in the AI race is mission critical. This AI Action Plan is a decisive step towards preserving American innovation and ensuring AI does not become entrenched with bureaucratic government regulation or woke ideologies. I commend the President and his team for their work.”

• House Science Committee tweeted, “President Trump’s AI Action Plan illustrates a strong commitment to positioning the U.S. at the forefront of AI innovation & leadership. Pillars to success: Accelerating Innovation Building AI Infrastructure Leading International Diplomacy & Security”

• Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) tweeted, “President Trump’s AI Action Plan released today sets forth a strategic agenda to ensure the United States continues to lead the world in the research, development, deployment, and advancement of artificial intelligence. I have been spearheading many of the plan’s recommendations through my work in the Senate and as Chair of the National Security Commission on Biotechnology, including: · Examining where burdensome regulations exist that prohibit innovation and the voluntary deployment of AI by the private sector · Ensuring our workforce can meet the demands of the future · Strategic and targeted investments in the development and manufacturing of AI and the emerging technologies that will shape the 21st century · Ensuring the U.S. builds a holistic AI pipeline so we are the ones setting the global standards and protecting our private sector from complying with differing rules across the world · Establishing strategic export controls to ensure American companies can collaborate with allies and partners, while securing our most sensitive technologies from theft by adversaries.”

• Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) tweeted, “President Trump’s AI Action will help ensure America wins the AI race and maintain the US as the world leader in AI innovation. House Republicans are committed to working with President Trump to create the right framework that will guarantee American AI dominance.”

• Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) tweeted, “It is great to see the Trump Administration release America’s AI Action Plan that lays out why we need to pass my legislation, H.R. 3447. The Chip Security Act leverages new and existing location verification features for advanced AI chips to ensure chips are not shipped to bad actors and countries of concern.”

• House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority tweeted, “President Trump’s AI Action Plan will solidify America’s technology dominance for years to come. The House Foreign Affairs Committee will work in lockstep with the administration to put this bold strategy into action.”

• Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) tweeted, “We must win the race for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to maintain and expand our economic & military might to protect America from foreign adversaries! President Trump is making America’s AI GREATER than EVER BEFORE!”

• Rep. Julia Fedorchak (R-ND) tweeted, “With POTUS back in the WhiteHouse, America is—thankfully—focused on dominating the global AI space. But to be AI dominant, we must first be energy dominant. North Dakota stands ready to power the future!”

• Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) tweeted, “I welcome the release of the White House’s AI Action Plan today, which reflects many of the priorities outlined in our bipartisan House AI Task Force report. This is an important step toward advancing AI innovation and maintaining U.S. leadership in AI deployment. I look forward to working together to build on this foundation through legislation in Congress.”

• Rep. Mike Haridopolous (R-FL) tweeted, “We led the world with the internet. We led the world in space. Now it’s time to lead the world in AI. That starts with unlocking more energy, building data centers, and unleashing American innovation. President Trump is getting it done.”

• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted, “I have many concerns about the AI Executive Order signed yesterday by President Trump. While I understand the many promised benefits of AI, I remain committed to protecting state rights, human jobs, human lives, human rights, our environment and critical water supply. My deep concerns are that the EO demands rapid AI expansion with little to no guardrails and breaks. It also contains the threat of withholding federal funds from states who regulate AI, which is an absolute threat to federalism and why I strongly opposed the AI state moratorium originally in the BBB. Rushed AI expansion and data centers being built all over the country from state to state with no plan in regards to environmental and critical water supply impact has massive future implications and problems. I’ve been in construction my entire life. I can tell you firsthand, when you move dirt there is always an impact to the surrounding area. When you build something that requires a HIGH water demand, it will always take water away from others – that means people, cities, businesses, and surrounding counties and states. Data centers are like a black holes when it comes to water requirements. They consume massive amounts of water for cooling, literally millions of gallons per day. If you know anything about the water wars between GA, TN, AL, and FLA, then you know states already fight each other over water supply. Counties fight each other over water supply and sue each other over PFAS/PFOS and other impacts. Just wait and see how bad lawsuits will become when counties are competing for data centers, in order to get rid of county property taxes, and the unintended results is new data centers that steal the water from surrounding homes and neighboring counties and states. Competing with China does not mean become like China by threatening state rights, replacing human jobs on mass scale creating mass poverty, and creating potentially devastating effects on our environment and critical water supply. This needs a careful and wise approach. The AI EO takes the opposite.”

• Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus Vice Chair Doris Matsui (D-CA), Chair Don Beyer (D-VA), and Democratic Members of the Caucus Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Rob Menendez (D-NJ) issued a statement on the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan and executive orders on AI, “We are deeply concerned about the impacts of President Trump’s AI Action Plan and the executive orders announced yesterday. The President’s Executive Order on “Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government” and policies on ‘AI neutrality’ are counterproductive to responsible AI development and use, and potentially dangerous. To be clear, we support true AI neutrality—AI models trained on facts and science—but the administration’s fixation on ‘anti-woke’ inputs is definitionally not neutral. This sends a clear message to AI developers: align with Trump’s ideology or pay the price. We have already seen private technology companies rewarded for catering to the Administration, including the Administration awarding a wildly inappropriate $200 million Pentagon contract for Elon Musk’s Grok AI despite that platform’s recent history of racist misinformation, antisemitism, and support for Adolf Hitler – which were prompted by the very ‘anti-woke’ training this order envisions. We are also alarmed by the absence of regulatory structure in this AI Action Plan to ensure the responsible development, deployment, or use of AI models, and the apparent targeting of state-level regulations. As AI is integrated with daily life and tech leaders develop more powerful models, such as Artificial General Intelligence, responsible innovation must go hand in hand with appropriate safety guardrails. In the absence of any meaningful federal alternative, our states are taking the lead in embracing common-sense safeguards to protect the public, build consumer trust, and ensure innovation and competition can continue to thrive. We are deeply concerned that the AI Action Plan would open the door to forcing states to forfeit their ability to protect the public from the escalating risks of AI, by jeopardizing states’ ability to access critical federal funding. And instead of providing a sorely needed federal regulatory framework that promotes safe model development, deployment, and use, Trump’s plan simultaneously limits states and creates a ‘wild west’ for tech companies, giving them free rein to develop and deploy models with no accountability. Finally, we are concerned about the implications of the Executive Order on ‘Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure’ for energy costs, demand on the grid, and the environment. AI training and inferencing have already driven up energy demand in the U.S, with ratepayers seeing higher utility prices due to the development of data centers. Trump recently signed partisan legislation that will significantly undercut clean energy projects, driving up costs and leaving us more reliant on dirty, polluting energy sources – trends which this plan will worsen considerably. At a time when Trump himself has increased the need for energy efficiency in AI development and deployment, this plan will do the opposite while increasing harm on the environment. While there are policies in the Action Plan that we agree with, including support for AI-driven science, improving AI evaluations and providing testing resources, and putting our American workforce first, we are deeply concerned about the partisan policies included in the Action Plan and Executive Orders that poison what should have been a good-faith, non-partisan effort. We will closely monitor the implementation of these policies, and will continue to advocate for the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI.” (Press release)

• Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) said, “It is imperative that the United States establish a clear and robust path forward on artificial intelligence that positions our nation as the winner in the AI race. From a national security and domestic policy perspective, the federal government must be forceful in investing in AI and scaling the necessary infrastructure to compete and innovate. Though I believe the Executive Branch should play a role in providing clarity on a path forward, I do not believe that we should allow culture wars and deep partisanship to shroud the ability of states and Congress to regulate this rapidly evolving industry. What’s more, any responsible AI policy framework must prioritize the environment, and should focus on resource protection and energy efficiency technologies. The United States cannot afford to lose the global AI race, but any path forward must be through strong, thoughtful leadership and value innovation, the environment, and national security.” (Press release)

• Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) tweeted, “Trump’s AI Action Plan & new executive orders are deeply troubling & undermine responsible AI innovation. My AI Caucus colleagues & I will keep fighting for policies that safeguard AI development & fully leverage the potential of AI for all Americans without giving a handout to Big Tech.”

• Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) tweeted, “The Administration should step away from trying to inject politics into AI.”

• Lieu also tweeted, “The U.S. should increase AI innovation, build AI infrastructure, and lead on AI internationally. But, there are specific provisions in Trump’s AI Action Plan that are deeply problematic and have massive implementation issues.”

• Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) tweeted, “Trump’s attempt to resurrect the AI moratorium is dangerous and unacceptable. We can’t let him succeed. I will be fighting  to ensure that dangerous idea stays dead.”

• Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tweeted, “Trump’s AI executive orders prioritize corporate profits over people. It once again adopts Silicon Valley’s failed “move fast and break things” model that threatens people’s privacy and security while raising energy costs for everyday people. We can harness the promise of AI without putting Americans in harm’s way.”

• Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) tweeted, “There is a massive effort underway – the industry working hand in glove with the Trump White House – to stop AI from being regulated. MAGA will pay a huge political price for this once the AI-driven job loss goes nuclear. And it will. Sooner than people think.”

Miscellaneous

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivered floor remarks on Trump’s agreement to allow Nvidia AI and China, saying, “Donald Trump’s trade war has created a mess for U.S. businesses. And now he’s rushing to clean up the mess, and he’s getting played by Beijing. Last week, the administration handed President Xi and the Chinese Government a major win, by approving chip-maker Nvidia to resume selling American H-20 chips – used to develop AI – to China. When these chips were blocked, Americans breathed a sigh of relief. China would not get a basic tool to catch up to us – and even surpass us – on AI and so many other technological advances. Not four months ago, for that reason, the administration blocked the sale of these chips. But now – typical of Donald Trump, there’s no consistency, there’s just what he feels is good for himself at the moment – they’re making a costly and troubling U-turn. Flip-flops like this show weakness to the Chinese government, and that is the last thing we can afford. What is more, these chips are vital in the race to dominate AI: these H-20 chips are among the best on the market and were critical for China’s development of DeepSeek. We all wondered: how did China catch up with DeepSeek? Well, by using these chips. And now Donald Trump is greenlighting the sale of even more of these chips. If you are worried about allowing China to dominate in AI, with all the troubling prospects of that domination, then this reversal from the administration is a huge step towards enabling that Chinese dominance. Every chip Donald Trump allows Nvidia to sell to Chinese competitors is one more boost to Beijing in the race for AI dominance. But the administration’s capitulation keeps going. As part of trade talks with Beijing, they’re also undermining export controls of U.S. technologies deemed to be critical for our national security. This sends an unmistakable message to adversaries around the world: America’s national security is open to negotiation under Donald Trump’s government. The administration should revert to its original decision in April to block the sale of these chips to the Chinese government, and Donald Trump should stop giving the Chinese government leverage in the race for the technologies of the future.” (Press release)

• Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) tweeted, “Privacy is the base layer for ethical AI. To defend freedom, immediate action is necessary.”

• House Committee on Education and Workforce tweeted, “The Trump administration is putting America’s workforce first by establishing a path forward to help workers understand AI—and succeed in the 21st century. Republicans are committed to ensuring our workforce has the tools and know-how to remain a leader in the global AI race.”

• Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) tweeted, “America once led the world in nuclear technology. The next century will depend on energy to power manufacturing, robotics, AI, and the innovations that define the future.”

• Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) tweeted, “We don’t have to choose between innovative AI & safeguarding consumer rights, protecting intellectual property, & defending national security. Clear rules on privacy, kids’ safety, transparency & more are key to promoting research & reassuring the public that AI is safe/accurate. Congress should set up enforceable rules like those in my AI Accountability & Personal Data Protection Act to give consumers the rights, remedies, & legal tools they deserve.”

• Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) tweeted, “Countering China in the Indo-Pacific means winning the AI race. Future potential conflicts will be won by the side with the best access to timely, accurate information. That’s why it’s critical our military invest more in AI development.”

• Fallon also tweeted, “Cybersecurity and AI are the future of defense and we cannot fall behind. Strengthening our defense industrial base is how we counter modern threats from Russia and China. We must build up our industries and attract top talent to keep the our nation secure.”

• Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) tweeted, “If America is going to lead in energy, AI, or critical minerals, we have to stand up for science.  Call your Representative and Senator. American innovation and research are at stake”

• Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) tweeted, “At a time when American consumers are already stretched thin by rising inflation, home prices, and child care costs… Delta wants to squeeze even more money out of you by using AI to determine the highest fares consumers will pay. Hell no. I’m pushing back.”

• Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) tweeted, “Delta’s AI pricing scheme is just corporate greed disguised as innovation. They’re using your data to figure out exactly how much they can squeeze from you. I’m demanding answers from Delta’s CEO.”

• Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) tweeted, “Nuclear energy is key to powering America’s future. With AI and crypto surging, we need every electron available to lead in these areas.”

• Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) tweeted, “’Exclusive: Hawley and Blumenthal introduce AI protection bill Hawley: “It’s time for Congress to give the American worker their day in court to protect their personal data and creative works.’”

• Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) tweeted, “The AI Accountability & Personal Data Protection Act embodies a bipartisan consensus that AI safeguards are urgent—because the tech is moving at accelerating speed, & so are dangers to privacy. Enforceable rules can put consumers back in control of their data, & help bar abuses. Tech companies must be held accountable—& liable legally—when they breach consumer privacy, collecting, monetizing or sharing personal info without express consent. Consumers must be given rights & remedies—& legal tools to make them real—not relying on gov’t enforcement alone.”

• Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) tweeted, “America has always led the world in technological innovation, and AI is the next frontier. For the sake of our economic and national security, we must continue to lead the charge in adopting this new technology and ensure that we have the energy production in place to keep pace.”

What I’m Reading This Week

• Big Tech lobbying surges as companies try to shape Trump’s AI policy, Alex Rogers, Ian Hodgson, Eva Xiao, and Stephen Morris, Financial Times.

• America Should Assume the Worst About AI, Matan Chorev and Joel Predd, Foreign Affairs.

About Zero One Strategies

Zero One Strategies is a boutique government relations practice dedicated to navigating the complex landscape of U.S. federal policy in emerging technologies. As advancements in technology continue to outpace regulatory frameworks, Zero One Strategies aims to provide strategic guidance and bipartisan advocacy for innovators and businesses operating at the forefront of technological development.

The practice focuses on key areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, decentralized technologies, cybersecurity, data, and digital infrastructure, as well as the multiple policy issues impacting these sectors, including tax and financial services.

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