US Shifts AI Policy: Deregulation and Growth Fuel Bid for Global Dominance

The United States has unveiled a sweeping new strategy for artificial intelligence, titled "Winning the Race: America's AI Action Plan," which signals a decisive shift in federal policy toward prioritizing innovation and rapid development by cutting regulatory red tape.[1][2][3] This comprehensive blueprint, the culmination of a 180-day directive, recasts the global AI competition as a critical national security imperative and aims to empower the private sector by removing what the administration deems as burdensome obstacles.[4] The plan represents a complete reversal from the previous administration's more cautious approach, which sought to balance the potential benefits of AI with its inherent risks.[5] Instead, the new agenda is built on a "growth-first" philosophy, emphasizing deregulation, infrastructure development, and a coordinated federal strategy to secure America's dominance in the field.[1][4] With over 90 proposed federal policy actions, the plan is structured around three core pillars: accelerating innovation, building American AI infrastructure, and leading in international AI diplomacy and security.[1][6][3]

A central tenet of the America AI Action Plan is the aggressive removal of regulatory barriers perceived to be hindering the progress of AI innovation.[5][7][8] The White House has directed the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget to conduct a government-wide review to identify and repeal regulations that unnecessarily impede AI development and deployment.[1][7][9] This initiative includes a public request for information to identify specific federal regulations that slow down innovation.[7] Furthermore, the plan discourages what it considers excessive state-level regulation by tying federal AI-related funding to the regulatory environment of individual states, potentially withholding funds from those with what are deemed "counterproductive policies."[5][1][7] This move has been praised by industry groups who see it as a way to fix a regulatory landscape hobbled by conflicting state laws.[7] The plan also takes aim at what it calls "ideological bias" in AI models, proposing to update federal procurement guidelines to favor developers whose systems are objective and free from such bias.[1][10][11] This includes revising the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework to remove references to misinformation, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and climate change.[1][9]

Recognizing that AI leadership is contingent on robust physical infrastructure, the plan heavily emphasizes the rapid build-out of data centers, semiconductor fabrication plants, and the nation's power grid.[2][12][11] A key component of this pillar is the streamlining of permitting processes for these critical facilities, including new exclusions from certain federal environmental laws to expedite construction.[13][11] The plan reclassifies data centers as critical national infrastructure, qualifying them for faster environmental reviews and overriding potential local delays.[11] This focus on infrastructure extends to the energy sector, with calls to modernize the electric grid to handle the immense power demands of AI supercomputing and to prioritize the connection of reliable power sources like nuclear and geothermal.[10][11] Acknowledging the need for a skilled workforce to build and maintain this infrastructure, the plan outlines initiatives to train more electricians, HVAC technicians, and other critical trades through expanded apprenticeship and technical education programs.[4][14][15]

On the global stage, the AI Action Plan charts a course for American leadership through proactive international diplomacy and security measures.[1] A core strategy is the export of the "full AI technology stack"—including hardware, models, software, and standards—to allied nations.[16][1][15] The Departments of Commerce and State are tasked with coordinating this effort to establish American technology as the global standard and prevent reliance on rival nations' technology.[16][10][6] This export-oriented approach is coupled with tighter export controls on advanced AI technologies to prevent adversaries, particularly China, from accessing critical components.[10][17][13] The plan also seeks to counter China's influence in international governance bodies and on global standard-setting.[18][13] Domestically, the strategy aims to bolster cybersecurity for critical infrastructure by establishing an AI Information Sharing and Analysis Center to facilitate intelligence sharing on AI-related threats.[1] The plan also promotes the use of open-source and open-weight AI models as a means to embed U.S. standards globally.[1][9]

In conclusion, the America AI Action Plan represents a fundamental pivot in the nation's approach to artificial intelligence, championing a deregulated, pro-growth environment to spur innovation and secure a competitive edge. By dismantling regulatory hurdles, accelerating the construction of essential infrastructure, and pursuing an assertive international strategy, the plan aims to create an ecosystem where American AI can thrive.[4][15] This marks a stark departure from previous policies that gave more weight to safety and ethical guardrails, betting instead that American ingenuity, unencumbered by bureaucracy, will win the global AI race.[5][4] The long-term success of this strategy will hinge on its implementation and its ability to balance rapid technological advancement with the complex societal and security challenges that AI presents.