The Trump White House released its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence on March 20, 2026, sending Congress a legislative blueprint designed to establish federal standards that would override state-level AI regulations. The framework covers seven core areas and represents the administration’s clearest signal yet that it wants a single, unified rulebook for the AI industry rather than 50 different ones.
What the framework actually covers
The seven objectives span child protection, AI infrastructure security, intellectual property rights, free speech preservation, and workforce development. These aren’t regulations themselves. They’re recommendations to Congress, a legislative wish list that lawmakers would need to turn into actual bills.
The framework is non-binding. Existing state regulations in places like California and New York remain fully in effect until and unless Congress acts on any of these recommendations.
The document builds on two prior administration actions. An AI Action Plan published in July 2025 laid out the administration’s general vision. Then a December 11, 2025 executive order specifically directed the creation of this framework.
