President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 2, 2026, requiring certain AI companies to voluntarily submit new models to the government for testing or evaluation 30 days before public release.
The signed order is a scaled-back version of an earlier draft that had called for a voluntary review window of up to 90 days. AI industry insiders had pushed for a much shorter two-week window. Trump had been set to sign the more demanding version in late May but delayed following industry pushback, including from venture capitalist and former White House AI adviser David Sacks. Trump said at the time that he did not want to impede AI companies’ ability to compete against China.
The order explicitly limits its own scope, stating: “Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the creation of a mandatory governmental licensing, preclearance, or permitting requirement for the development, publication, release, or distribution of new AI models, including frontier models.”
Beyond the voluntary review process, the order directs the Department of Justice to treat AI-assisted hacking and unauthorized access as high-priority enforcement areas.
Trump had planned to sign the order alongside a group of prominent Silicon Valley CEOs, but ultimately signed the current version privately.
This is not the administration’s first action on AI policy. In December 2025, Trump signed a separate executive order directing the development of a national AI policy framework — described as “one rulebook” — intended to preempt state-level AI laws.
The voluntary nature of the review requirement may limit its practical reach, though the order signals continued federal interest in monitoring the development of advanced AI models ahead of their public release.
Source: TechCrunch