Key Takeaways
- The White House has taken steps to implement its AI Action Plan, which includes over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating AI innovation, building American AI infrastructure, and leading in international AI diplomacy and security.
- Federal agencies have released or updated AI strategies in alignment with the AI Action Plan, focusing on responsibly integrating AI into missions while promoting innovation and governance.
- The Office of Management and Budget has released procurement guidance to ensure that large language models procured by the federal government comply with unbiased AI principles.
- The General Services Administration has been making OneGov agreements with technology companies to standardize terms and pricing and streamline agencies’ access to vital IT tools.
- The U.S. Marine Corps has introduced a training and certification program to rapidly expand the number of qualified operators of small attack drones.
Introduction to the AI Action Plan
The White House released its AI Action Plan in July, outlining over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating AI innovation, building American AI infrastructure, and leading in international AI diplomacy and security. As stated in the plan, one of the key policies is to "cut red tape and eliminate regulations that hinder America’s leadership in this critical technology." Since the release of the plan, federal policymakers and agencies have taken key steps to implement its components and accelerate U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
Challenging Restrictive State AI Laws
In December, the White House issued an executive order targeting state AI laws that could interfere with national policy objectives. The order directs the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force to review and potentially challenge laws deemed "unconstitutional, preempted, or otherwise unlawful," which could potentially hinder innovation. As the executive order delivers on the AI Action Plan, it is clear that the administration is committed to removing barriers to AI innovation. According to the White House, the AI Action Plan aims to "ensure that the United States maintains its leadership in AI research and development, and that the benefits of AI are shared by all Americans."
Federal AI Procurement Rules
One of the notable policy shifts linked to the AI Action Plan is the Office of Management and Budget’s procurement guidance, which was released in December. The OMB memo outlines contractual requirements to ensure that large language models, or LLMs, procured by the federal government comply with unbiased AI principles, including truth-seeking and ideological neutrality. As stated in the policy, agencies should avoid requirements that compel a vendor to disclose specific model weights and other sensitive technical information. According to Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, "We’re creating a more consistent, scalable and efficient way to buy technology—one that benefits agencies, [original equipment manufacturers] and taxpayers alike."
Federal Agency AI Strategies
Several federal agencies have released or updated AI strategies in alignment with the AI Action Plan. The Department of Health and Human Services, for example, launched its departmental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, emphasizing governance, workforce readiness, risk management, and modernization of operations through AI to improve health and human services. The Department of Veterans Affairs published a strategy to expand AI adoption across its services, aiming to streamline workflows, enhance healthcare delivery, accelerate benefits processing, and strengthen public trust. The State Department unveiled its Enterprise Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2026, which aims to modernize diplomacy using AI and data.
Implementation and Impact
With agency plans in motion and procurement rules evolving, the focus now turns toward implementation and impact. Upcoming deadlines for updated procurement policies and new agency deployments will shape how the federal government operationalizes AI. These developments will be critical in determining not just regulatory compliance but how AI ultimately transforms government services and international engagement. As stated by the White House, the AI Action Plan aims to "ensure that the United States remains a global leader in AI, and that the benefits of AI are shared by all Americans."
OneGov and Federal Tech Procurement
The General Services Administration has been making OneGov agreements with some of America’s biggest technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon Web Services, OpenAI, and xAI. OneGov, according to GSA, is intended to leverage the federal government’s collective spending power to standardize terms and pricing and streamline agencies’ access to vital IT tools. As commissioner Gruenbaum said, "We’re creating a more consistent, scalable and efficient way to buy technology—one that benefits agencies, [original equipment manufacturers] and taxpayers alike."
USMC Drone Training Program
The U.S. Marine Corps has introduced a training and certification program to rapidly expand the number of qualified operators of small attack drones. The Department of War said the initiative seeks to formalize training for operators of small attack drones, including Neros Archer and other first-person-view, or FPV, systems built from commercial off-the-shelf technology. The training program supports the department’s plan to deploy tens of thousands—and eventually hundreds of thousands—of attack drones across all service branches starting in March 2026.
Strengthening the Defense Industrial Base
The United States can strengthen domestic defense production by expanding supply chains with trusted allies, according to MITRE. In a recent report, the not-for-profit organization identified three key actions for allied cooperation: exporting U.S. defense systems, sourcing components from allied suppliers, and jointly developing or producing advanced technologies. As MITRE explained, different countries already hold absolute or comparative advantages in specific sectors, such as advanced radar technologies, naval shipbuilding, and cybersecurity. A recent partnership between the United States and Finland illustrates the potential benefits of such cooperation.
White House AI Action Plan: Progress & Policy Changes Since July