Trump Cancels Planned AI Model Review Order After Adviser Objections

President Trump canceled a planned executive order on May 21 that would have created a federal review process for releases of advanced AI models, following objections from former AI czar David Sacks. The order had been in development for weeks as part of the administration's effort to address national security concerns around powerful AI systems.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said earlier this month that the administration was studying an executive order for AI security that would operate similarly to how the FDA reviews drug approvals. Hassett, who serves as director of the National Economic Council, discussed the proposal in a Fox Business interview in early May, according to reporting by Federal News Network.

The order's cancellation reflects internal divisions within the administration over how aggressively to regulate the rapidly advancing AI sector. Sacks, a tech investor who previously served as the White House AI czar, opposed the measure, arguing it could stifle innovation and give China an advantage in the AI race.

The collapse of the order makes it unlikely that any federal AI model release review process will be established before the end of May, though the White House has not issued a formal statement ruling out future action on the issue. The administration has not indicated whether it plans to revisit the proposal or pursue alternative measures.

Attention now turns to whether the White House will pursue any executive action on AI model security before the end of the month, or whether internal opposition has effectively shelved the initiative for the foreseeable future.