Thune casts doubt on AI moratorium pushed by White House
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed skepticism about teh White House’s proposed moratorium on new state laws regulating artificial intelligence (AI), indicating that it may not be included in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The moratorium, which aims to temporarily block states from passing their own AI regulations, has been controversial and faces opposition from senators who emphasize states’ rights and prefer a national regulatory framework first. Even though the White House, backed by House Republican leaders and President Donald Trump, has pushed to include the moratorium in key legislation, similar efforts have previously failed in the Senate. Thune noted ongoing negotiations between the White House and members of congress to find a compromise that balances federal oversight with states’ authority.The NDAA is expected to be voted on soon, with the AI moratorium remaining a significant unresolved issue.
Thune casts doubt on AI moratorium pushed by White House
Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) signaled the White House has not made enough progress on an AI moratorium for it to be included in the defense policy bill the Senate will consider later this month.
“That’s controversial, as you know,” Thune said of the moratorium, which would temporarily prevent states from passing new laws on artificial intelligence.
“We’ll see,” he told the Washington Examiner. “Both sides are kind of dug in.”
The White House has been attempting to insert the AI moratorium’s language into the National Defense Authorization Act, the last must-pass piece of legislation Congress will consider this year. In a show of congressional support, House Republican leadership has gotten behind that push.
The measure has faced heavy skepticism from senators, however, and failed earlier this year when Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the chairman of the Commerce Committee, attempted to add the moratorium to Trump’s tax law. It was ultimately stripped out in a 99-1 Senate vote.
The Trump administration has made AI dominance one of its top priorities and believes state laws will slow an investment boom. The pushback on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, has centered on matters of states’ rights, plus a general sentiment that Congress should come up with a national framework before preventing states from crafting their own policies.
“I think the White House is working with senators, and House members for that matter, to try and come up with something that works but preserves states’ rights,” Thune added.
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President Donald Trump has personally appealed to Congress to include the moratorium, either in the NDAA or another piece of legislation. The White House has also been considering unilateral action that, if taken, could have a chilling effect on new state laws.
The AI moratorium is one of the final hang-ups as lawmakers prepare to pass the NDAA, with its text expected to be released on Thursday and a Senate vote scheduled the following week.
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