State AI law moratorium omitted from 2026 defense bill, but Trump is preparing ‘ONE RULE’ executive order

On Sunday, federal lawmakers shared the bill text of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026, which did not feature the contentious state artificial intelligence law moratorium it had been rumored to include. However, federal efforts to rein in state and local authority over the technology aren’t dead just yet.

Early Monday morning, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he will sign an executive order this week to preempt state and local laws governing AI, creating “one rulebook” for the technology across the country. This would make for the second time Trump has floated the idea of using executive powers to hamper states’ ability to govern or regulate AI.

Trump cited concerns similar to those voiced by some Republicans about the multitude of laws across the country, and that by allowing states to continue regulating AI, the technology’s market growth would be impeded.

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