Safety
White House Struggles to Revive AI Regulation Plan
The White House is facing internal conflict over reviving an AI regulation plan canceled by Trump in May, with uncertainty about its future.
Photo: Christina Morillo / Pexels
The Trump administration is grappling with internal discord as officials attempt to revive an executive order on AI regulation that President Donald Trump abruptly canceled in May. The effort has been described as chaotic by both Silicon Valley executives and administration insiders. Some AI leaders remain uncertain about what a revised executive order might entail or whether it will be signed at all. The canceled order, which aimed to establish a voluntary framework for early access to AI models, included a contentious provision requiring AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic to give the White House early access to evaluate cybersecurity risks. The push for regulation reflects growing concerns within the White House about AI's role in national security, especially given the capabilities of models like Anthropic’s Mythos and OpenAI’s GPT-5.5, which are adept at identifying vulnerabilities in legacy systems. However, the administration’s initial stance on AI regulation has shifted, indicating a potential change in approach. The draft order suggested AI labs could submit models up to 90 days before public release, though some executives doubt their readiness to comply. Whether the order can be revived hinges on the ability of top officials to reconcile competing factions. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles leads a group pushing for the order’s return, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross. Bessent has been actively engaging with AI leaders to shape the path forward. Meanwhile, former AI czar David Sacks opposes the order, having convinced Trump to cancel it. Trump himself remains a key obstacle, with aides noting that resolving internal disputes is only meaningful if it secures his approval. *Source: [wired](https://www.wired.com/story/the-white-house-is-at-war-with-itself-over-ai-regulation/)*
Key points
- The Trump administration is attempting to revive an AI regulation plan canceled in May.
- The canceled executive order included a provision requiring AI labs to give the White House early access to models for cybersecurity evaluation.
- AI leaders remain uncertain about the potential requirements of a revised executive order.
- The push for regulation reflects growing White House concerns about AI's role in national security.
- The draft order suggested AI labs could submit models up to 90 days before public release.
- White House chief of staff Susie Wiles leads efforts to resurrect the executive order.
- Former AI czar David Sacks successfully convinced Trump to cancel the original order.