Part 2: The New Administration Takes Immediate Executive Action on Federal Technology

The Trump Administration has been implementing its agenda through various executive orders, including those related to federal technology and a focus on artificial intelligence. On January 23rd, two directives were released detailing further actions in IT governance.  

PCAST

The new administration announced the formation of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a 2-year term working group to advise the president on science, technology and innovation. Specifically, PCAST will be co-chaired by the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST) and the Special Advisor for AI & Crypto. The group will consist of no more than 24 members from sectors outside the federal government and appointed by the president.

The primary function of the group will be to provide, “advice and evidence-based recommendations to the President to ensure that policies are informed by the latest scientific discoveries and technological advancements,” according to the announcement’s fact sheet.

Federal agencies are directed to provide the PCAST with information concerning scientific and technological matters as requested by the group. Though PCAST members will serve without any compensation, any other expenses and funding required by the group will be provided by the Department of Energy.

The concept of the PCAST dates back several administrations to the George W. Bush era. In fact, much of the requirements in Trump’s PCAST directive match that of the Biden Administration PCAST EO, 14007. Nonetheless, some distinguishers lie in the fact sheet for the order. For instance, the PCAST is directed to refocus science and technology policy based on merit and to, “champion bold investments in innovation, the elimination of bureaucratic barriers, and actions to help the United States remain the world’s premier hub for scientific and technological breakthroughs.”

Artificial Intelligence

The Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence EO follows up on the revocation of the Biden Administration’s AI EO, 14110. In particular, the Trump EO calls on the APST, Special Advisor for AI & Crypto, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs to review all policies, initiatives, orders and actions taken under the revoked EO to fulfill Section 2 of the EO, “It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security.”

The recent EO also calls on revisions as necessary to related OMB memos, M-24-10 and M-24-18, the latter of which focuses on federal AI acquisition.

The EO’s fact sheet indicates the portions of the Biden EO and OMB memos that will likely be targeted, including, “unnecessarily burdensome requirements for companies developing and deploying AI that would stifle private sector innovation and threaten American technological leadership.” Contractors can expect that the Trump Administration will revise parts of OMB M-24-18 that prove to be barriers to AI acquisition in support of accelerated innovation. The fact sheet also states that revisions will target regulations to ensure, “AI systems must be free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas.”

Simultaneously, the EO calls on APST to develop an AI action plan within 180 days, which will likely take shape as Trump’s own AI EO and “how-to” for federal AI development and implementation.

Given the Trump Administration’s persistence to overturning the previous administration’s efforts in AI regulation, and so far targeting the Biden AI EO and related OMB memos, it is expected there will be mention at some point of Biden’s AI national security and AI infrastructure EOs. However, relatively speaking, those EOs appear to share larger commonalities with the Trump Administration’s views of AI.

Another interesting point is the fact sheet’s mention of Trump 1.0 actions in AI, including its previous commitment in doubling AI research investment, establishing national AI research institutes, and involvement in AI technical standards. One wonders if the mentioning of these historical actions indicates a continuance of these activities, particularly when it comes to increasing federal AI R&D funding.

Closing thoughts

Contractors can continue to anticipate a larger private sector role and influence over federal technology policy and opportunities with the new administration. Statements throughout these two executive orders indicate priority in private sector interests. For example, the PCAST EO states that, “To secure our future, we must harness the full power of American innovation by empowering entrepreneurs, unleashing private-sector creativity, and reinvigorating our research institutions.”  Likewise, the fact sheet for the AI Leadership EO explicitly states that parts of the Biden EO which, “hampered the private sector’s ability to innovate in AI by imposing government control over AI development and deployment,” will be revoked.