The Trump administration is grappling with significant internal discord as officials strive to resurrect a crucial executive order concerning AI regulation. This order, initially championed by the White House, was abruptly canceled by President Donald Trump just last month, leaving many in the dark about its future.
The period since the cancellation has been marked by widespread confusion and internal strife, with both key Silicon Valley figures and administration officials describing the situation as “chaotic.” AI executives have privately expressed their uncertainty to WIRED, unsure of what a revised executive order might entail or even if one will ultimately be signed.
The Canceled Order and Its Controversies
On May 21, President Trump unexpectedly called off a planned signing ceremony for the executive order, just hours before it was scheduled. He publicly stated concerns that the order could potentially stifle domestic competition and diminish the United States’ lead over China in the rapidly evolving AI race.
At the heart of the nixed order was a highly contentious provision: a voluntary framework requiring leading AI labs like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to grant the White House early access to their advanced AI models. This early access would have allowed for cybersecurity evaluations well before public release, raising significant industry concerns about intellectual property and release timelines.
This push for regulation stems from a growing recognition within the White House that AI poses a significant national security concern. The advanced capabilities of models such as Anthropic’s Mythos and OpenAI’s GPT-5.5, particularly their aptitude for identifying vulnerabilities in legacy software systems, underscore this urgency. This marks a notable shift for an administration that initially showed little interest in AI regulation.
Internal Divisions and Key Players
The ability to bring an AI executive order back to the table now hinges on top White House officials successfully unifying competing factions within the administration. According to aides involved in the process, this internal struggle is the primary hurdle.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is leading a group of officials pushing for the order’s revival. This group also includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross, a former Republican political operative, highlighting the broad-based effort to reinstate the regulation.
Scott Bessent has emerged as a particularly influential figure in shaping AI policy within the administration. He has recently held meetings with key industry leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, to strategize a path forward. Bessent is also anticipated to play a leading role in negotiating cross-border AI regulations with China, underscoring his growing importance in this critical area.
However, Wiles faces opposition from David Sacks, Trump’s influential former AI czar. Sacks reportedly advised Trump that the executive order would be overly burdensome and successfully convinced him to cancel the signing just hours before it was set. Politico previously reported on this significant dynamic between Wiles and Sacks.
In a recent post on X, Sacks reiterated his stance, stating, “President Trump understands that unnecessary regulation is the biggest threat to innovation in America. Winning the AI race means not only beating China but also clearing bureaucratic hurdles thrown up by state legislatures and woke politicians in DC.” This perspective highlights the ideological divide within the administration on the role of government in AI development.
Uncertainty and the Path Forward
Despite the efforts to reconcile internal differences, the biggest obstacle to bringing AI regulation back remains President Trump himself. “Resolving the infighting only matters if it gets Trump to yes,” an administration official anonymously stated, emphasizing the ultimate decision-making power rests with the President.
White House spokesperson Liz Huston acknowledged the ongoing challenge, stating, “The President’s team is united in executing his bold agenda and maintaining this critical balance.” This statement reflects the administration’s attempt to navigate the complex interplay between fostering innovation and implementing necessary safeguards.
Amidst this uncertainty, other key officials have maintained a distance from the executive order process. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, despite his general interest in AI, has played a minimal role, largely because he already has early access to new AI models through the existing Center for AI Standards and Innovation program.
This program serves as the primary clearinghouse for the U.S. government’s testing and evaluation of frontier AI models, effectively operating without formal pre-approval requirements. Lutnick has significantly elevated the program’s profile by expanding its mandate at the outset of Trump’s second term. Similarly, the Pentagon, under Undersecretary Emil Michael, has focused more on ensuring its own early access to frontier AI models rather than directly participating in the executive order’s drafting.
A senior administration official underlined the fluidity of the internal dynamics since the executive order’s initial cancellation. “We’re back to the drawing board, so everything is still to play for,” the official noted, indicating that discussions and potential revisions are ongoing as the White House seeks a viable path forward for AI regulation.
Source: Wired – AI
