President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday creating a voluntary federal review process for advanced artificial intelligence systems before they are released publicly. The order directs agencies to assess potential national security risks posed by the most powerful AI models, with reviews lasting no more than 30 days.
The directive says advanced AI can strengthen the United States while also raising security issues that require coordination across the federal government. Participation by AI developers would be voluntary, an approach intended to involve major technology companies without imposing a formal pre-release requirement. It remains unclear how much the final order differs from an earlier version Trump declined to sign in May.
Trump postponed a White House event with technology executives after expressing concern that the draft could slow U.S. innovation and weaken the country’s competitive position, particularly against China. At the time, he said the United States was leading globally and that he did not want government policy to interfere with that advantage.
The new order appears to balance those concerns with calls for greater preparation around emerging AI risks. Juan Londoño, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute, described the policy as imperfect but useful in preparing for advanced AI releases. He welcomed its voluntary structure but raised questions about how officials, led by the National Security Agency director, would determine which systems qualify for review and which partners receive early access.
The order follows recent concern over Anthropic’s Claude Mythos model, which reportedly demonstrated significant ability to identify software vulnerabilities. After its release was limited to selected partners, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell met with Wall Street executives to discuss related cybersecurity risks. Anthropic said Tuesday it expanded Mythos access to 150 additional organizations. Further implementation details are expected from federal agencies later.