Record STMT-W956597Legally binding

Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence

Executive order State lawNorthern America · USin force

This Executive Order establishes the American Initiative, a coordinated federal government strategy to sustain and enhance United States leadership in artificial intelligence research, development, and deployment. It outlines five core principles focused on driving technological breakthroughs, establishing technical standards, workforce training, fostering public trust while protecting privacy and civil liberties, and promoting an international environment that supports American AI innovation. The order directs executive departments and agencies to prioritize AI in research and development funding, improve access to federal data and computing resources, issue regulatory guidance, and develop workforce training initiatives.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

United States GovernmentGovernment · US

Lead issuer

Legal forceLegally binding

Under whose authorityState law

Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

National governmentRegulatorsPublic sector bodiesResearchers and academics

Heads of executive departments and agencies, federal researchers, and policymakers who must implement federal AI strategies, investments, and standards.

Sectors

Cross-sectorResearch and science · Artificial Intelligence R&D

What the document contains

What's covered

The document addresses federal coordination and strategy for artificial intelligence, covering federal R&D investment prioritization, expansion of public access to federal datasets and high-performance computing resources, the creation of regulatory guidance frameworks, and integration of AI into workforce education and training programs.

What's missing

The document does not establish specific binding legal obligations or compliance requirements for private sector AI developers beyond encouraging collaboration, nor does it create a dedicated federal regulatory agency or enforcement mechanism for commercial AI applications.

Key takeaways

The order launches the American AI Initiative as a coordinated federal strategy to maintain U.S. leadership in AI research, development, and deployment.
Federal agencies performing or funding R&D are directed to prioritize AI in budget proposals and funding allocation.
Agencies must review federal data and models to increase access and usability for the non-Federal AI research community while ensuring safety and privacy protections.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is tasked with issuing a plan for federal engagement in the development of technical standards for trustworthy AI systems.
Agencies with educational grant authorities must consider AI as a priority area within fellowship, service, and training programs.

Principles it states

The United States must drive technological breakthroughs in AI across the Federal Government, industry, and academia in order to promote scientific discovery, economic competitiveness, and national security.The United States must drive development of appropriate technical standards and reduce barriers to the safe testing and deployment of AI technologies.The United States must train current and future generations of American workers with the skills to develop and apply AI technologies.The United States must foster public trust and confidence in AI technologies and protect civil liberties, privacy, and American values.The United States must promote an international environment that supports American AI research and innovation while protecting technological advantage from strategic competitors.

Outline

· Section 1. Policy and Principles
· Section 2. Objectives
· Section 3. Roles and Responsibilities
· Section 4. Federal Investment in AI Research and Development
· Section 5. Data and Computing Resources for AI Research and Development
· Section 6. Guidance for Regulation of AI Applications
· Section 7. AI and the American Workforce
· Section 8. Action Plan for Protection of the United States Advantage in AI Technologies
· Section 9. Definitions
· Section 10. General Provisions

Issued11 February 2019

Length2,765 words

FormatNot recorded

Scopenational

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

1/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

Actions shall be implemented by agencies that conduct foundational AI R&D, develop and deploy applications of AI technologies, provide educational grants, and regulate and provide guidance for applications of AI technologies

Section 3

screening score · 2026-10-23

Fairness

0/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Dignity

0/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Oversight

0/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

screening score · 2026-10-23

Privacy

2/5

Protection of personal data and private life

while maintaining safety, security, privacy, and confidentiality protections consistent with applicable laws and policies

Section 2(b)

screening score · 2026-10-23

Transparency

2/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

Specifically, agencies shall improve data and model inventory documentation to enable discovery and usability

Section 5(a)

screening score · 2026-10-23

Enforcement

1/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

Within 180 days of the date of the memorandum described in subsection (a) of this section, the heads of implementing agencies that also have regulatory authorities shall review their authorities relevant to applications of AI and shall submit to OMB plans to achieve consistency with the memorandum.

Section 6(c)

screening score · 2026-10-23

Impact Assessment

2/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

privacy and civil liberty protections for individuals who may be affected by increased access and use

Section 5(a)(iv)(A)

screening score · 2026-10-23

Topics

artificial_intelligence federal_funding research_and_development workforce_training data_governance technical_standards