U.S. News
Nonprofit Pushes for Single National AI Law
Clear Facts
- Building America’s Future launched a significant advertising campaign pushing for a unified federal AI standard.
- The group’s ad endorses President Trump’s call to preempt state AI laws and set one national rule.
- Prominent Republicans are split on the issue, with some arguing federal control hurts states’ rights.
Building America’s Future, a conservative nonprofit funded by donors including Elon Musk, has rolled out a major ad buy urging Congress to back President Trump’s vision for one federal policy on artificial intelligence.
The 30-second ad, which will run nationally and in Washington, D.C., argues that inconsistent state regulations will hamper American innovation and advantage China.
The group emphasizes that a patchwork of state laws could give Democrats leverage to shape AI policy in ways that may not prioritize American interests or values.
“America is losing the AI race to China and liberal states are to blame,” the ad says in part.
“Congress must act, now: Set one national rulebook that continues our jobs boom, lowers costs, and leaves China behind,” the ad continues.
President Trump has publicly called for Congress to include this nationwide AI standard in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act.
“Put it in the NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act], or pass a separate Bill, and nobody will ever be able to compete with America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Nov. 18.
Not all Republicans are on board, with some warning that eliminating state-level authority over AI regulation could empower Big Tech and undermine protections for political speech, intellectual property, and local infrastructure.
“Stripping states of jurisdiction to regulate AI is a subsidy to Big Tech and will prevent states from protecting against online censorship of political speech, predatory applications that target children, violations of intellectual property rights and data center intrusions on power/water resources,” DeSantis wrote in a Nov. 18 X post.
Opponents, including almost three dozen state attorneys general, have urged Congress to retain state power over AI laws, arguing that states should have the ability to safeguard their communities.
The White House has reportedly prepared an executive order that would direct federal agencies to challenge state-level AI regulations and possibly withhold certain funds.
Building America’s Future’s ad quotes Trump arguing that state-by-state rules would “hold up” American economic growth and innovation.
Some analyses indicated AI investment has contributed significantly to GDP growth this year, further amplifying the stakes of the debate.
Trump has warned about the risk of “Woke AI” policies arising from Democrat-led state regulations.
Previous attempts to halt state regulation with a decade-long federal moratorium were unsuccessful, but supporters like Senator Ted Cruz have committed to revisiting the measure.
Building America’s Future has previously praised Trump for policies boosting the economy, aligning with the group’s advocacy for unified national standards and conservative governance priorities.
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