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ARTICLE · 23 DECEMBER 2025

Trump Executive Order Targets State AI Laws – Raising Questions And Risks

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
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Last week, President Trump issued an Executive Order (the "EO") entitled "Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence." The December 11, 2025...

United StatesTechnology
Paul H. Luehr
Paul H. Luehr
Sam Tyner-Monroe
Sam Tyner-Monroe

Last week, President Trump issued an Executive Order (the "EO") entitled "Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence." The December 11, 2025, EO aims to establish U.S. "dominance" in artificial intelligence (AI) through a moratorium on fragmented and "onerous" state-level AI regulations. Congress has previously rejected such a moratorium twice: first prior to the passage of H.R. 1, and more recently before approving the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Administration now proposes a federal framework and new executive actions that include potential litigation, regulation and preemptive legislation.

Key Elements

AI Litigation: The EO directs the U.S. Attorney General to establish an AI Litigation Task Force within 30 days. Additionally, the Secretary of Commerce must publish, within 90 days, a list of state laws considered "onerous" and impediments to AI innovation. The list will also target for potential litigation those laws

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