President Donald Trump signed a new Executive Order aimed at strengthening U.S. cybersecurity through expanded use of artificial intelligence while maintaining a light regulatory approach to AI development. The order directs federal agencies to accelerate cyber defense modernization, expand access to AI-enabled security tools, and work more closely with private-sector AI developers and operators of critical infrastructure.
The June 2 Executive Order focuses heavily on cybersecurity rather than AI regulation. It establishes a government-industry AI cybersecurity clearinghouse to coordinate vulnerability discovery and remediation, directs agencies to prioritize defense of national security and civilian federal systems, and expands federal support for AI-powered cybersecurity capabilities. The administration also calls for a classified benchmarking process to evaluate advanced AI models for cyber capabilities and identify “covered frontier models” that may warrant enhanced security collaboration with government agencies.
The order stops short of imposing mandatory licensing or approval requirements for AI models. Instead, it creates a voluntary framework through which AI developers can work with federal agencies, potentially providing early access to advanced models before public release to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and evaluate emerging risks. The administration says the approach is designed to balance innovation with national security while preserving U.S. leadership in AI development.
- Directs the Committee on National Security Systems to prioritize cyber defense of National Security Systems within 30 days.
- Directs the Department of War and Department of Homeland Security to accelerate protection of military and civilian federal networks.
- Requires CISA to issue guidance and operational directives supporting deployment of AI-enabled cybersecurity tools across federal, state, local, and critical infrastructure organizations.
- Establishes an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse to coordinate vulnerability scanning, validation, remediation, and patch distribution.
- Calls for identification of federal funding opportunities supporting advanced AI vulnerability detection technologies.
- Expands federal cybersecurity hiring through the United States Tech Force Information Cybersecurity Specialist program.
- Creates a classified benchmarking process for evaluating advanced AI cyber capabilities and determining whether a model qualifies as a “covered frontier model.”
- Establishes a voluntary government-industry collaboration process for frontier AI models, including potential pre-release access for government and trusted partners.
- Explicitly prohibits interpretation of the order as creating mandatory licensing, permitting, or preclearance requirements for AI model development or release.
- Directs the Department of Justice to prioritize prosecution of criminal activity involving AI-assisted hacking, unauthorized access, data theft, and related cybercrime.
“The United States must protect American ingenuity, intellectual property, and critical systems from exploitation and cyberattacks by adversaries,” the White House said in its accompanying fact sheet. “Protecting American ingenuity and critical infrastructure requires the full power of both the public and private sectors working together.”
