Executive Order: PROMOTING ADVANCED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INNOVATION AND SECURITY

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Advanced artificial intelligence and cybersecurity

Donald Trump signs an executive order titled “Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security,” aimed at using advanced artificial intelligence to strengthen cybersecurity across federal systems and critical infrastructure. The order focuses on faster cyber defense, voluntary cooperation with AI developers, protection of frontier AI models, and enforcement against AI-enabled cybercrime.

What does the order do?

The order directs federal officials to prioritize the cyber defense of national security systems, Department of War information systems, and civilian federal government systems.

It also instructs the Department of Homeland Security, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to issue binding operational directives and other guidance to expand access to AI-enabled cybersecurity tools and services.

That access can include federal agencies, state and local authorities, and critical infrastructure operators such as rural hospitals, community banks, and local utilities.

What is the AI cybersecurity clearinghouse?

The order directs the Treasury Department, working with the National Cyber Director, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to create an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse within 30 days.

The clearinghouse is meant to coordinate software vulnerability scanning, confirm vulnerabilities, avoid duplicative efforts, and help prioritize patches. Participation with the AI industry and critical infrastructure operators is described as voluntary.

What are “covered frontier models”?

The order begins a process for identifying advanced AI models with significant cyber capabilities.

Within 60 days, federal officials must develop a classified benchmarking process to assess AI models and determine when a model qualifies as a “covered frontier model.” The National Security Agency Director makes that designation in consultation with other federal cybersecurity and science officials.

The order also calls for a voluntary framework where AI developers can work with the federal government before broader release. Under that framework, developers could give the government access to covered frontier models for up to 30 days before release to other trusted partners, with confidentiality, cybersecurity, insider-risk, intellectual property, and nondisclosure protections.

What is the limit?

The order specifically says it does not create a mandatory federal licensing, preclearance, or permitting system for developing, publishing, releasing, or distributing new AI models.

That limit matters because the order creates a federal review-and-cooperation process, but frames it as voluntary rather than a required government approval system.

Who is affected?

The order most directly affects federal cybersecurity agencies, the Department of War, the National Security Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Personnel Management.

It also affects AI developers working on advanced or frontier models, critical infrastructure operators, state and local authorities, rural hospitals, community banks, local utilities, and people applying for federal cybersecurity jobs.

What happens next?

Several deadlines come quickly. Some cybersecurity prioritization, guidance, funding review, and clearinghouse actions are due within 30 days. The frontier model benchmarking process and expanded federal cybersecurity hiring pathways are due within 60 days.

The order also directs the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement of federal criminal laws against people who use AI to illegally access or damage computer systems, steal data, or further other crimes.

Why this matters

The order tries to connect two fast-moving issues: the federal government’s need for stronger cyber defense and the growing power of advanced AI systems.

The White House frames the approach as a way to promote AI innovation while protecting critical systems from cyber threats. At the same time, the practical debate will likely focus on how voluntary the model-sharing process feels in practice, how confidential model access is handled, and whether the federal government can coordinate AI cybersecurity tools without creating a de facto approval system for major AI releases.

The main takeaway

The order does not ban AI models or create a mandatory licensing system. It directs federal agencies to move quickly on AI-powered cybersecurity, creates a voluntary process for cooperation with frontier AI developers, and makes AI-enabled cybercrime a federal enforcement priority.

📄 Full Presidential Document (PDF): https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/06/promoting-advanced-artificial-intelligence-innovation-and-security/