Leo Schwartz

Two bipartisan members of Congress released a discussion draft for a sweeping federal AI regulatory framework on Thursday, led by Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.). The proposal aims to establish a federal approach to AI regulation ahead of November's midterm elections. The framework would override some existing state rules, representing the latest Congressional effort to create unified AI governance.

The Illinois House of Representatives passed legislation requiring major AI companies to submit model safety plans for third-party audits and establishing whistleblower protections for their employees. The bill awaits Governor JB Pritzker's signature. The measure represents one of the first state-level regulatory efforts targeting AI safety practices directly.

The White House Office of the National Cyber Director briefed major AI companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Reflection AI on a planned executive order that would establish a voluntary framework for pre-release model review by government agencies. Under the proposed framework, AI labs would share frontier models with the government up to 90 days before public release, allowing intelligence and other agencies to assess potential risks. President Trump could sign the order as soon as Thursday. The briefing also included representatives from cloud providers, semiconductor companies, cybersecurity firms, and banks.

The Trump administration is reconsidering its approach to AI oversight as model capabilities advance, with plans to establish new review processes and potentially issue an executive order that would convene industry executives and government officials. The shift signals a move toward more structured coordination between the private sector and federal agencies on AI governance. Details on the scope and timing of these guardrails remain limited, but the effort reflects growing concern about the need for oversight mechanisms as AI systems become more capable.