With Congress stalled, dozens of states have moved ahead with their own artificial intelligence rules — imposing child-safety measures, demanding more transparency from tech firms and creating whistleblower protections. The White House, however, is urging a single national framework, warning that a growing state “patchwork” could hamper innovation and burden industry.
President Trump and aides, including AI and crypto adviser David Sacks, have criticized state laws as potentially costly for companies. Michael Kratsios, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said the administration wants one national framework so innovators “have certainty” and can avoid complying with 50 different regimes. The administration released a short regulatory framework it wants Congress to adopt and has repeatedly voiced opposition to some state efforts — at times intervening in Republican-led proposals.
In Utah, Republican state Rep. Doug Fiefia proposed a transparency bill aimed at protecting consumers, but it never reached a vote after what he described as a one-line White House memo opposing the measure as inconsistent with the administration’s AI agenda. A White House official, speaking on background, said the White House has not told a state it cannot enact child safety protections, though officials declined to comment specifically on the memo to Fiefia. Fiefia, a former Google employee, said he believes both state and federal lawmakers should be involved but noted that congressional gridlock often leaves states to act, particularly to protect children.
Other Republican state lawmakers have voiced similar views. Pennsylvania State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, sponsor of the SAFECHAT Act requiring AI chatbots to include safeguards against content encouraging self-harm or violence, said states can spot problems early and respond quickly. Texas State Sen. Angela Paxton said she prefers strong federal legislation to avoid a regulatory patchwork but supports states passing laws while Congress remains inactive.
The White House framework lists principles for Congress to follow, including protecting children and shielding consumers from rising data-center costs. Reaction has been mixed: some favor a single national standard but say the document lacks detail. Riki Parikh, policy director at the nonprofit Alliance for Secure AI, said the framework fails to adequately address matters such as job displacement and company accountability. “A federal standard is better than a 50-state patchwork,” Parikh said, “but what they are proposing here is not sufficient. It does not earn the right to replace the good work states are doing.”
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti called the framework a positive step and preferable to a prior White House push for a 10-year moratorium on state AI laws, an effort that many saw as favoring tech companies and that ultimately failed. Skrmetti also expressed concern about the administration’s closeness to the AI industry.
Surveys show public skepticism: a Morning Consult and Tech Oversight Project poll found a majority believe the Trump administration is too close to tech companies, and a Vanderbilt University poll showed bipartisan support for AI regulation, with more Republicans than Democrats favoring limits.
On Capitol Hill, some Republicans have embraced the White House framework, but concrete legislative movement remains pending. Sen. Marsha Blackburn said she is coordinating with the White House on her TRUMP AMERICA AI Act, which expands on the administration’s four-page framework. The White House says it continues to have “productive conversations” with lawmakers as it seeks a federal approach.