A senior White House official offered only broad insights into the administration’s forthcoming recommendations for a national artificial intelligence policy during testimony before the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology on Jan. 14.
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), outlined the administration’s high-level goals for artificial intelligence but provided few specifics on the legislative proposals Congress has been anticipating since President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a centralized federal AI policy in December 2025. According to reporting from Roll Call, lawmakers were left with limited clarity on what a federal AI framework would ultimately include or when formal recommendations would be released.
Kratsios emphasized that the administration sees “opportunities for collaboration” with Congress as its AI action plan moves forward. However, his testimony did not address key questions surrounding the scope, enforcement mechanisms, or timing of the proposed federal standards.
Push for a Uniform Federal AI Framework
The administration’s approach is centered on establishing a single national framework for AI regulation. The stated goal is to prevent a fragmented system of state-level laws, which the White House argues could impose burdensome compliance requirements, slow innovation, and weaken the United States’ competitive position in the global AI landscape.
Several states, including Colorado, California, and Texas, have recently enacted their own AI-related regulations. The administration views these efforts as part of a growing patchwork that could complicate development and deployment of AI technologies nationwide.
To address this concern, the December 2025 executive order titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence” created an AI Litigation Task Force tasked with challenging state laws that conflict with federal AI policy.
Lawmakers Raise Transparency and Federalism Concerns
Members of the subcommittee expressed frustration with the lack of detail provided during the hearing. Kratsios said that he and Special Adviser for AI and Crypto David Sacks “look forward, over the next weeks and months, to be working with Congress on a viable solution,” but stopped short of offering substantive policy outlines.
Subcommittee Chair Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., voiced general support for developing a federal AI framework that preserves U.S. leadership in AI development and deployment. At the same time, he cautioned against fully excluding states from the regulatory process.
“I think what everyone believes is that there should be a federal lane, and that there should be a state lane,” Obernolte said.
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., was more critical of the administration’s approach, questioning the constitutionality of efforts to block state-level AI regulation. She argued that preempting state action without corresponding congressional legislation could leave important consumer protections unaddressed.
“What we should not do is preempt the states from taking necessary actions to protect their citizens while here in Congress, we do nothing to pass legislation ourselves,” Lofgren said.
Key Priorities in the Executive Order
A fact sheet accompanying the December 2025 executive order outlines several core priorities:
- Legal Enforcement: Creation of an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state laws that conflict with federal AI policy or are viewed as barriers to innovation.
- Funding Penalties: Authorization to withhold federal broadband funding and other grants from states that maintain conflicting AI regulations.
- Agency Oversight: Direction for the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission to review state AI mandates and explore a unified federal disclosure standard.
- Federal Preemption: Development of a national AI framework designed to override inconsistent state-level requirements.
The fact sheet notes that state legislatures have introduced more than 1,000 AI-related bills, warning that differing rules, disclosures, and reporting obligations could drive up compliance costs and slow innovation. The administration argues that streamlining AI regulation would reduce development burdens and strengthen the global competitiveness of U.S. companies.
What Comes Next
The executive order directs the FTC and FCC to complete their review of state AI regulations within 90 days, placing the expected deadline around March 2026.
Artificial intelligence has been a consistent focus of the Trump administration, dating back to a January 2025 executive order that established AI policy priorities and emphasized avoiding unnecessary regulatory barriers that could hinder private-sector innovation.
While the administration continues to signal its commitment to a unified national AI strategy, lawmakers from both parties are pressing for greater transparency and clarity as Congress considers its role in shaping the future of AI governance.
Author: Jennifer Evancic
Jennifer.Evancic@ResourceManagement.com
Jennifer Evancic is a third-party auditor valued by creditors and large organizations for her knowledge in call monitoring within the collections industry. With meticulous attention to detail and a firm grasp of regulatory requirements, she ensures compliance with clients’ criteria and state and federal regulations.
Jennifer audits collections calls, ensuring they meet client-specific criteria and comply with regulations, providing valuable insights and maintaining industry standards.
Beyond her auditing responsibilities, Jennifer takes the lead in organizing and facilitating monthly call calibrations. These sessions serve as a collaborative forum where clients and their vendors come together to discuss call monitoring results and address any findings or areas for improvement. Jennifer’s guidance fosters open communication and ensures alignment between clients and vendors, driving continuous improvement in collections practices.
Jennifer stays up-to-date with compliance and industry best practices by participating regularly in peer meetings, regulatory updates and industry webinars. This keeps her informed about emerging issues and ensures she remains a knowledgeable leader in collections compliance.
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