Issued by the President of the United States on February 11, 2019
Section 1. Policy and Guiding Principles
Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of innovation, promising to bolster the United States’ economic strength, enhance national security, and elevate the quality of life for Americans. As the global leader in AI research, development, and application, the United States must protect and expand this leadership to shape AI's global trajectory in line with American values and strategic interests.
The Federal Government plays a vital role in facilitating AI development, earning public trust, cultivating a skilled AI workforce, and shielding critical technologies from foreign threats. Sustained leadership requires a coordinated national strategy that fosters innovation while safeguarding civil liberties, economic and national security, and international collaboration. This strategy, the American AI Initiative, is built on five foundational principles:
- Technological Advancement
The U.S. must spearhead AI breakthroughs across government, academia, and industry to drive scientific progress, competitiveness, and national security. - Standardization and Deployment
Establishing technical standards and minimizing regulatory hurdles will accelerate AI testing, deployment, and the emergence of new industries. - Workforce Development
Equipping current and future American workers with AI skills ensures preparedness for both present and future job markets. - Public Trust and Ethical Use
Building confidence in AI through strong protections for civil liberties and privacy is essential to realizing AI’s full potential. - Global Leadership and Protection
The U.S. must foster an international landscape that supports AI research, expands market access, and protects American technological advantage from foreign competitors.
Section 2. Strategic Objectives
All federal agencies will be impacted by AI. Designated implementing agencies will pursue six key objectives to reinforce and safeguard American progress in AI:
- Sustained Investment
Encourage long-term AI R&D partnerships with industry, academia, and allies to accelerate breakthroughs and their practical use. - Resource Accessibility
Improve access to high-quality federal data, models, and computing power, while maintaining safety, privacy, and compliance. - Regulatory Flexibility
Lower barriers to AI adoption by fostering innovation while defending national interests, civil liberties, and values. - Robust Standards
Create and adopt standards to ensure systems are secure, trustworthy, and aligned with public priorities and global interoperability. - Education and Training
Expand STEM and AI-focused educational initiatives, including apprenticeships and federal worker upskilling programs. - Technology Safeguarding
Develop and enforce an action plan to protect critical U.S. AI technologies from foreign acquisition or interference.
Section 3. Coordination and Implementation
The American AI Initiative will be coordinated through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. Relevant agencies, identified by the committee’s co-chairs, will be responsible for executing foundational R&D, deploying AI applications, regulating use, and supporting AI education.
Section 4. Federal Support for AI R&D
Agencies engaged in R&D shall treat AI as a strategic priority:
- Agencies must integrate AI into budget proposals, guided by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
- Annual plans must detail program-specific investments in AI, submitted through the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program.
- Partnerships with non-federal entities—private sector, academia, state and local governments, and foreign allies—should be actively pursued to leverage shared knowledge and resources.
Section 5. Enhancing Data and Computing Infrastructure
To strengthen the AI research ecosystem:
- Agencies will audit federal data and models to enhance accessibility, quality, and usability, with safeguards for privacy and security.
- Within 90 days, OMB will solicit public feedback to identify critical datasets for AI research.
- Agencies will also prioritize making data machine-readable and interoperable.
- Departments such as Defense, Commerce, HHS, Energy, NASA, and NSF will prioritize high-performance computing resources for AI.
A report on enabling cloud computing for AI research will be delivered to the President within 180 days.
Section 6. Regulatory Strategy for AI
To guide the regulation of AI-enabled technologies:
- Within 180 days, OMB, with other agencies, will issue a memorandum providing a framework for regulatory and non-regulatory approaches that support innovation and uphold civil liberties.
- Public comment will be invited before finalizing the memorandum.
- Relevant agencies will review existing regulations to ensure alignment with the new guidance.
- The Department of Commerce, through NIST, will lead development of standards that promote trustworthy AI systems, collaborating with government, academia, and industry.
Section 7. AI and Workforce Development
To strengthen America’s AI workforce:
- Agencies offering educational grants should prioritize AI in fellowship and training programs, giving preference to U.S. citizens where legally permissible.
- Eligible initiatives include K–12 through postgraduate fellowships, early-career research awards, and military commissioning programs.
- The Select Committee will annually report on workforce development plans and provide expert input to federal education and labor bodies.
Section 8. Protecting U.S. Advantage in AI
An interagency action plan will be developed to protect critical U.S. AI technologies from foreign threats:
- Coordinated by the National Security Advisor and informed by OSTP, this plan will be submitted within 120 days.
- Upon Presidential approval, all relevant agencies will implement it in alignment with national security priorities.
Section 9. Definitions
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Encompasses all federal investments in AI, including core technologies, prototypes, applications, infrastructure, datasets, and standards.
- Open Data: Publicly accessible, machine-readable data that can be effectively used and discovered by end users.
Section 10. General Provisions
This Order does not interfere with existing legal authority or responsibilities of any federal agency or official. It will be implemented in accordance with applicable laws and available resources. The Order does not create enforceable legal rights or obligations.
Signed:
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
Date: February 11, 2019