The Trump Administration on Friday unveiled a national legislative framework designed to shape federal policy on artificial intelligence and urged Congress to enact comprehensive legislation covering six central areas of AI development and deployment.
At the core of the proposal is a focus on protecting minors who interact with AI platforms. The framework calls for parental controls and privacy features and would require platforms accessible to children to put in place specific safeguards against sexually exploitative material and content that could encourage self-harm.
Energy infrastructure for data centers is another pillar of the plan. The administration proposes that Congress simplify permitting processes so that data centers can generate power on their premises rather than depending solely on the electrical grid. The framework explicitly states that ratepayers should not be responsible for bearing costs tied to data center operations.
On intellectual property, the framework seeks to strike a balance between protecting creators and innovators and permitting AI systems to make limited use of materials for learning purposes. The proposal frames this as an effort to preserve incentives for original work while enabling the technical development of AI models.
The administration also addressed risks related to content and political expression. The framework calls for measures to stop AI systems from being used to censor or silence political viewpoints, asserting that AI development should pursue truth and accuracy without government-imposed restrictions on content.
To accelerate innovation, the plan urges removal of regulatory barriers that could impede AI development and recommends expanding access to testing environments for AI system development and deployment across industry sectors. These provisions are intended to open broader opportunities for hands-on development and validation of AI technologies.
Workforce development features in the framework as well, with proposals to broaden training programs to equip American workers for roles in AI-related fields. The administration frames workforce initiatives as necessary to prepare the labor pool for the evolving demands of AI deployment.
The White House emphasized uniform application of the framework across states, warning that conflicting state laws would, in its view, undermine American innovation and competitiveness in AI development. Finally, the administration said it will work with Congress in the coming months to transform the framework into legislation suitable for presidential signature.
Six priority areas outlined in the framework
- Protections for minors including parental controls and safeguards against sexual exploitation and self-harm content.
- Energy infrastructure changes to allow on-site power generation for data centers, with costs not passed to ratepayers.
- Intellectual property adjustments to balance creator rights and AI learning needs.
- Measures to prevent AI-enabled censorship and protect political expression.
- Removal of regulatory barriers and expanded access to AI testing environments.
- Expanded training programs to prepare the workforce for AI-related jobs.