Trump wants a deadlocked Congress to move on AI. Frustrated states say they already have

Key Points:

• In the absence of federal AI regulation, many states, including those led by Republicans, have passed laws focused on child safety, transparency, and whistleblower protections, but the Trump administration opposes these state-level efforts, citing concerns over innovation and regulatory patchwork.
• The White House, led by figures like Michael Kratsios and AI advisor David Sacks, advocates for a single national AI regulatory framework that only Congress can enact, recently releasing a federal framework they want legislated.
• State lawmakers such as Utah’s Doug Fiefia and Pennsylvania’s Tracy Pennycuick express frustration with federal gridlock and continue to pursue state-level AI regulations, emphasizing the need to protect constituents, particularly children, in the absence of federal action.
• The administration’s AI framework has received mixed reviews; some experts criticize it for lacking detail and accountability measures, while others, like Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, see it as a positive step compared to previous proposals like a 10-year moratorium on state AI laws.
• On Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, support the White House framework and are working on legislation to formalize it, but concrete legislative progress remains pending amid public concerns over the administration’s ties to Big Tech.