White House Proposes a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence
On March 20, 2026, the White House unveiled a comprehensive “National Policy Framework” for artificial intelligence (AI). This four-page document outlines recommended legislative actions, aiming to guide Congress in addressing various facets of AI development and regulation. Although it does not propose specific legislation, it categorizes the legislative priorities into seven key areas:
1. Protecting Children and Empowering Parents
This section is the most extensive in the framework, offering seven recommendations designed to enhance child safety online. Key points include:
- Empowering parents with tools to manage their children’s privacy settings, screen time, and content exposure.
- Ensuring that Congress does not preempt state laws aimed at protecting children from harmful content, even if generated by AI.
- Establishing age-assurance requirements for AI platforms accessed by minors.
Furthermore, the framework advises against ambiguous content standards that could lead to excessive litigation.
2. Safeguarding and Strengthening American Communities
This section addresses community welfare, recommending five actions related to:
- Streamlining federal permitting for AI infrastructure to enhance grid reliability and support AI development.
- Providing resources, such as grants and tax incentives, to small businesses for broader AI deployment.
3. Respecting Intellectual Property Rights and Supporting Creators
The framework emphasizes the importance of intellectual property rights, suggesting four recommendations:
- Clarifying that training AI models on copyrighted materials does not violate copyright law, while allowing courts to decide on fair use.
- Considering a collective rights system for licensing while avoiding antitrust issues.
- Establishing protections against unauthorized commercial use of AI-generated replicas of individuals’ likenesses.
4. Preventing Censorship and Protecting Free Speech
With a focus on free speech, this section includes two recommendations:
- Preventing government coercion of technology providers to alter or censor content based on ideological agendas.
- Providing a mechanism for citizens to seek redress for government censorship on AI platforms.
5. Enabling Innovation and Ensuring American AI Dominance
This section aims to foster AI innovation through three key recommendations:
- Establishing regulatory sandboxes to encourage development.
- Making federal datasets available to industry and academia.
- Opposing the creation of a federal rulemaking body for AI regulation.
6. Educating Americans and Developing an AI-Ready Workforce
Addressing the impact of AI on the workforce, this section recommends:
- Incorporating AI training into existing education and workforce programs.
- Expanding federal efforts to study workforce realignment trends due to AI.
7. Establishing Federal Policy Framework, Preempting Cumbersome State AI Laws
The final section emphasizes the need for a cohesive national standard by recommending:
- Preempting state AI laws that impose excessive burdens, while allowing states to maintain laws protecting children and local governance.
The framework acknowledges that nearly 400 bills related to AI are pending in state legislatures, signaling significant legislative activity in the AI domain. It remains to be seen how the recommendations will influence both federal and state legislation.
For further insights into the practical implications of this framework, stakeholders are encouraged to seek expert advice.
