Trump seeks early AI model access

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 2 creating a voluntary framework for the federal government to get early access to some of the most advanced artificial intelligence models before they are released more broadly. The White House said the measure is meant to strengthen cybersecurity, protect critical infrastructure and keep the United States “the global leader in AI innovation.” The order also directs agencies to build a classified benchmarking process for identifying “covered frontier models.” It says the government cannot use the policy to impose mandatory licensing, pre-clearance or permitting for new AI systems. ### What exactly did Trump order companies to do? The June 2 order asks AI developers, on a voluntary basis, to work with the government on tests of models with advanced cyber capabilities. Those assessments would be used to decide whether a system qualifies as a “covered frontier model,” according to the White House fact sheet and reporting on the order. For models that fall into that category, companies would be asked to provide secure early access to the federal government and selected “trusted partners” before public release. (whitehouse.gov) CNBC reported that the access window in the signed order is up to 30 days before broader release. Nextgov/FCW reported that certain critical infrastructure operators could also get limited early access under the framework. ### Why is the White House describing this as voluntary, not a review mandate? The White House fact sheet says the order “expressly states” that nothing in it authorizes a mandatory licensing, pre-clearance or permitting requirement for the development, publication, release or distribution of AI models. (whitehouse.gov) CNBC reported the same language appears in the order itself. That language narrows the government’s role to a voluntary access and benchmarking process rather than a formal approval system. (cnbc.com) Nextgov/FCW reported that an earlier draft would have given the government 90 days of prerelease access, but the final version reduced that to 30 days. Politico had reported on May 20 that the draft under discussion would ask developers to submit some advanced models to voluntary federal review as far as 90 days before public release. (whitehouse.gov) ### What changed from the administration’s earlier position? Politico reported in May that the White House had been weighing a broader review framework for frontier AI systems. CNBC reported Trump had postponed an earlier signing ceremony because he “didn't like certain aspects of it,” after industry resistance to a tougher draft. The signed version kept prerelease access but paired it with explicit language against mandatory preclearance. (nextgov.com) The White House said Trump was seeking to “strike the right balance between innovation and security” and contrasted the new order with what it called the Biden administration’s “top-down regulatory approach.” That framing presents the policy as oversight tied to cyber risk rather than a licensing regime for AI development. (politico.com) ### Which agencies and sectors are involved? The White House said the order directs the secretary of homeland security, the Office of Management and Budget, the assistant to the president for national security affairs and the national cyber director to issue guidance to expand access to AI-enabled cybersecurity tools. The fact sheet says that effort covers federal agencies, state and local authorities, and operators of critical infrastructure including rural hospitals, community banks and local utilities. (whitehouse.gov) Nextgov/FCW reported that the Treasury Department, with support from the Office of the National Cyber Director, the National Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, is tasked with establishing a voluntary coordination clearinghouse linking government, AI companies and critical infrastructure operators. (whitehouse.gov) ### What happens next? The order gives agencies 30 days to take several initial steps, according to Nextgov/FCW and the White House. Those include securing Defense Department and other national security networks, issuing a binding operational directive for civilian federal networks, and beginning the clearinghouse process with industry and infrastructure operators. (nextgov.com) Treasury, the National Cyber Director’s office, DHS, NSA and CISA are among the named participants in the next phase. The White House also said the government will develop the classified benchmarking process that determines which systems count as covered frontier models under the order. (whitehouse.gov) (nextgov.com)