Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence
Signed: January 23, 2025
Published: January 31, 2025
Document Number: 2025-02172
📋Summary
This executive order aims to boost U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence by removing federal policies the Administration views as slowing AI innovation or pushing ideological goals. It affects federal agencies that regulate, fund, or set rules for AI, as well as organizations that must follow federal AI guidance when working with the government. It revokes Executive Order 14110 (from October 30, 2023) and directs senior White House officials to quickly review actions taken under that earlier order and have agencies suspend, change, or cancel any that conflict with the new pro-innovation policy. It also requires an AI “action plan” to be delivered to the President within 180 days, and instructs OMB to revise two government-wide AI memos within 60 days to align with this new approach.
💼Business Impact
This EO most directly affects AI developers and deployers (software/SaaS, cloud providers, model training firms, data brokers), plus any business selling into the federal government or regulated sectors (defense, finance, healthcare) that were aligning to EO 14110-era “safe/secure/trustworthy” expectations. Near-term, compliance pressure tied to EO 14110 may ease or become inconsistent across agencies as they suspend/revise prior guidance, while new opportunities may open for faster procurement, fewer reporting/attestation steps, and expanded pilots once the 180‑day AI Action Plan is released. Businesses should immediately (1) inventory any internal controls, documentation, or contract commitments built specifically to meet EO 14110/OMB M‑24‑10/M‑24‑18 requirements, (2) monitor agency and OMB updates over the next 60–180 days and be ready to adjust bid language and security/risk narratives, and (3) keep core security, privacy, and model-risk practices in place anyway (state laws, sector regulators, and customer requirements still apply) while positioning products as “innovation-forward” for upcoming federal AI initiatives.
Full Text
Executive Order 14179 of January 23, 2025
Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1 . Purpose. The United States has long been at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, driven by the strength of our free markets, world-class research institutions, and entrepreneurial spirit. To maintain this leadership, we must develop AI systems that are free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas. With the right Government policies, we can solidify our position as the global leader in AI and secure a brighter future for all Americans. This order revokes certain existing AI policies and directives that act as barriers to American AI innovation, clearing a path for the United States to act decisively to retain global leadership in artificial intelligence.
Sec. 2 . Policy. It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America's global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security.
Sec. 3 . Definition. For the purposes of this order, “artificial intelligence” or “AI” has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C. 9401(3).
Sec. 4 . Developing an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan. (a) Within 180 days of this order, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST), the Special Advisor for AI and Crypto, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB Director), and the heads of such executive departments and agencies (agencies) as the APST and APNSA deem relevant, shall develop and submit to the President an action plan to achieve the policy set forth in section 2 of this order.
Sec. 5 . Implementation of Order Revocation. (a) The APST, the Special Advisor for AI and Crypto, and the APNSA shall immediately review, in coordination with the heads of all agencies as they deem relevant, all policies, directives, regulations, orders, and other actions taken pursuant to the revoked Executive Order 14110 of October 30, 2023 (Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence). The APST, the Special Advisor for AI and Crypto, and the APNSA shall, in coordination with the heads of relevant agencies, identify any actions taken pursuant to Executive Order 14110 that are or may be inconsistent with, or present obstacles to, the policy set forth in section 2 of this order. For any such agency actions identified, the heads of agencies shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, suspend, revise, or rescind such actions, or propose suspending, revising, or rescinding such actions. If in any case such suspension, revision, or rescission cannot be finalized immediately, the APST and the heads of agencies shall promptly take steps to provide all available exemptions authorized by any such orders, rules, regulations, guidelines, or policies, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, until such action can be finalized.
(b) Within 60 days of this order, the OMB Director, in coordination with the APST, shall revise OMB Memoranda M-24-10 and M-24-18 as necessary ( printed page 8742) to make them consistent with the policy set forth in section 2 of this order.
Sec. 6 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 23, 2025.