Trump Allies Push for Government Vetting of Advanced AI Systems
Steve Bannon and 60 others, including church leaders and conservative activists, urged President Donald Trump on Friday to require mandatory government testing and approval before companies release advanced AI systems to the public.
The letter, signed by the group Humans First, warns that frontier AI models pose threats to cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, financial systems, election integrity, and biosecurity. The signatories include Humans First Chairwoman Amy Kremer and roughly three dozen religious leaders.
Bannon told Axios that "mandatory testing and government approval" is a "must" for AI. The coalition asked Trump to issue an executive order establishing the vetting process before any frontier AI system reaches the public.
The Policy Tension
The request creates friction within Trump's own administration. The White House has released an AI action plan centered on accelerating innovation and removing regulatory barriers. Trump has signed multiple executive orders to fast-track data center construction, promote AI exports, and limit state-level restrictions on the technology.
Daniel Schiff, a policy scientist and co-director of the Governance and Responsible AI Lab at Purdue University, said the letter may surprise some administration insiders. "Will this letter by itself move things? That's another question," Schiff said. "But that there is a coalition that is organizing, that it has money, is working within states, that can fund candidates - there's a bunch of venues where these kinds of groups and their messaging can start to push back from the local to the national levels."
Broader Concerns About Corporate Power
The letter argues that private corporations should not have unchecked authority to release untested systems on the public. "America did not become the greatest nation in the world by allowing unelected elites to experiment on the public without safeguards or accountability," it reads.
Schiff said concerns about AI companies stem partly from their willingness to disrupt major social structures like education and labor. "People are increasingly concerned about the power of the AI systems, and I think along with that, the power of the AI companies," he said.
He noted that most computing and policy experts agree guardrails on AI companies remain insufficient. Beyond immediate security risks, widespread concern exists about labor disruption and misinformation.
Inconsistent Federal Strategy
Schiff said national AI policy has been "a bit wishy-washy." While bipartisan concerns about U.S. competition with China persist, recent policy shifts around export controls and regulation of major AI companies have been inconsistent.
The last several administrations have prioritized innovation and minimized regulation for AI, though pro-innovation rhetoric has intensified under Trump's current term.
For government professionals overseeing AI policy, understanding these competing priorities is essential. Learn more about AI for policy makers and explore AI for Government resources.
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