The U.S. Justice Department is moving to centralize control over artificial intelligence regulation, setting up a new task force aimed at dismantling state-level AI laws it views as obstacles to innovation.
According to an internal memo reviewed by CBS News, the department has announced the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Litigation Task Force that will actively challenge state regulations restricting AI development.
The memo, sent to Justice Department employees and authored by Attorney General Pam Bondi, cites President Trump’s recent executive order targeting what it describes as “excessive” state regulation of artificial intelligence.
The order argues that a fragmented system of state-by-state AI rules risks undermining the industry by creating overlapping, conflicting or contradictory requirements.
The task force’s mandate is explicit. It will challenge state AI laws on the grounds that they are illegal, unconstitutionally regulate interstate commerce or are preempted by existing federal authority.
The initiative is being launched at the direct instruction of President Trump and will coordinate with senior White House officials, including AI and crypto czar David Sacks, according to the memo.
Sacks has publicly defended the administration’s approach, arguing that federal intervention is necessary to curb what he describes as the most onerous and excessive forms of state regulation.
Under the plan, the task force will be led either by Bondi herself or a designated appointee and staffed by representatives from the offices of the Deputy and Associate Attorney General, the Civil Division and the Solicitor General.
The move comes as several states accelerate their own AI rulemaking. Colorado, California, Utah and Texas have already enacted laws governing AI development and deployment, while multiple other states are actively considering similar measures.
Most state-level proposals introduced last year focused on limiting AI misuse rather than restricting innovation. These included measures aimed at curbing deepfakes, requiring disclosure when consumers interact with AI systems and setting guardrails around automated decision-making.
The administration’s decision to challenge those laws signals a looming legal confrontation between federal authorities and state governments over who sets the rules for AI in the United States.
The formation of the task force underscores a broader shift in federal policy, positioning AI as a strategic national industry where regulatory uniformity and rapid innovation are being prioritized over localized consumer protections.
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