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Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Trump signs executive order banning 'woke AI' in federal government use
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) signed an executive order banning federal agencies from using artificial intelligence (AI) models that reflect what he called 'woke' or ideologically biased outputs. The order mandates the procurement of AI systems that conform to newly defined "Unbiased AI Principles". The order stipulates that all large language models (LLMs) used by federal agencies must prioritise truthfulness and ideological neutrality. These principles are to be enforced through procurement guidelines, contracting terms, and federal oversight. 'AI must not serve ideological agendas' The order states that AI must be "truthful" and prioritise "historical accuracy, scientific inquiry, and objectivity". 'It must also acknowledge uncertainty where information is incomplete or contradictory,' it reads. On ideological neutrality, the order says LLMs must act as 'neutral, nonpartisan tools' that do not encode or promote 'ideological dogmas like DEI', unless explicitly prompted by the user. Trump framed the move as part of a broader campaign to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies from federal governance. Citing examples of AI models that had "altered the race or gender of historical figures" or refused to use certain terms during hypothetical crises, the order warns that 'ideological biases can distort AI outputs and erode public trust'. Compliance guidance to be issued The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with other federal leaders, has been instructed to issue guidance for implementing the Unbiased AI Principles in procurement processes. Vendors found to be non-compliant may face penalties under new contractual clauses. These include provisions that allow the government to terminate contracts and recover costs. Part of wider rollback of DEI programmes The AI directive is the latest in a series of executive actions by Trump aimed at dismantling DEI-related policies across federal departments. Since January, the US President has signed multiple orders eliminating DEI from contracting, aviation, defence, homeland security, and foreign service. 'We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire Federal government,' Trump said. Trump's action against DEI programmes Since returning to the Oval Office, Trump has pursued an aggressive rollback of DEI initiatives across federal institutions. On his inauguration day, he issued Executive Order 14151 - 'Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing' - directing all federal departments to terminate DEI offices, remove related content, and lay off staff involved in DEI efforts. The following day, he signed EO 14173, revoking Executive Order 11246 and rescinding affirmative-action requirements in federal contracting, effectively banning DEI-based preferences for contractors. Within weeks, agencies including the FBI, CIA, Nasa, Education and Veterans Affairs suspended DEI programmes, placed staff on administrative leave, dismantled offices, purged web content, and deleted diversity references from policy documents. Trump's administration framed these actions as restoring meritocracy and opposing "ideological DEI mandates" deemed wasteful or discriminatory. Critics argue this marks a sweeping dismantling of long-standing equity efforts and could erode protections for marginalized communities.
Axios
8 hours ago
- Business
- Axios
White House AI plan focuses on beating China
The White House's AI action plan released on Wednesday focuses on beating China and accelerating the tech's advancement in the U.S. Why it matters:"Winning the Race: America's AI Action Plan" at its core gives industry the green light to move as rapidly as it wants, all in the name of global competition. The big picture: Industry has been eager for the long-awaited plan to get a sense of what direction the Trump administration wants to go on AI, and just how it aims to differ from the Biden-era focus on safety. President Trump is set to appear at an event in Washington later on Wednesday with top tech leaders to discuss the document. The plan lays out the administration's aspirations for AI with specific goals that officials believe can be completed in Trump's second term. Driving the news: As Axios first reported last week, the plan ordered in Trump's January AI executive order is largely about messaging a hands-off, pro-growth approach to AI. The report focuses on three main "pillars" of accelerating AI innovation, building American AI infrastructure and leading in international AI diplomacy and security. What's inside: The report highlights four key policies: exporting American AI, promoting rapid buildout of data centers, enabling AI innovation and adoption, and free speech in frontier models. The action plan states that "the Federal government should not allow AI-related federal funding to be directed toward states with burdensome AI regulations that waste these funds, but should also not interfere with states' rights to pass prudent laws that are not unduly restrictive to innovation." It's a nod to what Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz tried to do via reconciliation, but faced too much backlash. The administration will put out a request for information on federal regulations it views as impeding AI innovation. Per the report, any state laws that the Trump administration deems in conflict with the federal standards set out in the Communications Act could be used as the basis to deny funding. OMB will work with all federal agencies with AI-related discretionary funding to ensure "they consider a state's AI regulatory climate" when making funding decisions. AI and free speech: At the federal level, the plan calls to change procurement standards for AI deemed too liberal or "woke" and to update the AI risk management framework to delete mentions of DEI, misinformation and climate change. Encouraging open-source AI: The plan aims to help startups and academics get access to compute via private-public partnerships at NAIRR, Commerce, OSTP and the National Science Foundation. The plan also urges various departments to adopt programs that will train people to work in AI jobs and prioritize government investment in emerging technologies like drones and self-driving cars. Export controls: Per the report, "the United States must meet global demand for AI by exporting its full AI technology stack— hardware, models, software, applications, and standards—to all countries willing to join America's AI alliance." What we're watching: At an event later on Wednesday, Trump is slated to sign executive orders to give agency directives for the AI action plan.
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Billions In Education Funding Remains Frozen, Despite Efforts Of GOP Senators
Still unavailable to the states On July 1, instead of funding, U.S. schools received an unsigned email from the Department of Education stating that the government would not be distributing funds for five grant programs. On July 16, 10 Republican Senators asked the Office of Management and Budget to reconsider, but as of this week, only $1.4 billion of the $6.8 billion total has been released. The email from the department indicated that the five programs were paused for review. Funding for the programs was approved and allocated by Congress in March, but the OMB has frozen the funds. The letter, addressed to OMB director Russell Vought, called for the administration to end the withholding of funds, arguing in terms of the Trump administration's stated priorities. The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump's goal of returning K-12 education to the states. This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families. However, an OMB spokesperson told Newsweek: Initial findings show that many of these grant programs have been grossly abused to promote a radical leftwing DEI agenda, subsidize the Open Border Crisis, and in many cases, directly violate Presidential Executive Orders. Again, the 10 senators struck a conciliatory tone: We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs. However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds. One of the programs that the letter cited specifically is the funding for after- and before-school sessions. On July 18, the OMB indicated that the review of that program was completed and the funds would be released--provided the receiving states certify that they will follow the administration's interpretation of civil rights law, according to Mark Liebreman at Education Week. On July 21, a coalition of school districts, teacher groups, and a PTA group sued the administration in an attempt to have the rest of the funds released. With weeks left before school starts a new year, many districts are scrambling to come up with either program cuts or outside funding sources that will compensate for the withholding of federal funds. ABC News reported that Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she's worried the Trump administration's federal education actions could mean "closing schools" in her home state. The Department of Education is referring questions of funding to the OMB, which has not specified a timeline for decisions about the rest of the funding. It appears that the letter from the senators has exhausted its effects. The 10 GOP senators who signed the letter include Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Susan Collins (ME), John Boozman (AR), Katie Britt (AL), Deb Fischer (NE), John Hoeven, (ND), Jim Justice (WV), Mitch McConnell (KY), Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Mike Rounds (SD).
20 hours ago
- Business
Murkowski worries Trump administration's $6B funding freeze could result in 'closing schools'
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she's worried the Trump administration's federal education funding freeze could mean "closing schools" in her home state. "Many of our school districts have already made really hard decisions about closing schools," Murkowski said in the wake of three of Alaska's school districts suing the Trump administration for freezing more than roughly $6 billion dollars in congressionally authorized federal education funding nationwide. "Both in Fairbanks and Anchorage, we've seen layoffs," Murkowski said. Earlier this month, the Anchorage School District announced in a letter to the community that the district had already begun laying off some staff members after $46 million was impacted by the pause. The district receives about a third of the state's federal education funds, according to Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt. "I wish I could say that we were really solid on the state level, but we're not. And now there's questions on the federal level as well," Murkowski added. Murkowski and nine other Republican senators signed onto a letter last week requesting the Trump administration reverse the funding pause, which they said prompted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to unfreeze more than $1 billion in after-school and summer learning funding. However, OMB did not indicate whether it would be unfreezing the rest of the roughly $6 billion in federal funds for programs, such as English language learning, educator development and adult education, among others. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, led the group of 10 senators signing on to the letter. She told ABC News that she hopes the administration can successfully restore all education funding to states by time school starts. "I'd like to see some of the other programs released, but, you know, we haven't heard one way or the other," Moore Capito told ABC News. School district leaders are now scrambling due to the uncertainty, according to state officials who've spoken to ABC News. At least two dozen states, several school districts and education advocacy groups have now sued the administration over the funding freeze. An OMB spokesman said the funds are under review for "grossly" misusing programs that promote "radial leftwing agendas." But Murkowski slammed the administration for contending that districts in Alaska pushed programs with radical ideology. She said the programs are not "woke or ideologically out of line." Murkowski fears the programmatic review from the OMB -- the stated reason for the freeze -- could stretch into the school year, suggesting it would harm adult and English language learners the most. The delayed funding could in turn impact the workforce, according to Murkowski. "If your literacy skills are weak, if you're working on your English skills, I mean, these are all things that are keeping people out of the workforce at a time when we're trying to get people into it," Murkowski said, adding "So I am very worried." Since the funding pause ensued on July 1, North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven said he has been hearing from concerned educators in his state as well. Hoeven was relieved when the after-school and summer learning grants were unfrozen because they, too, help the workforce, he said. With funding for those programs secured, parents won't have to make other arrangements for their children, potentially missing work to do so, Hoeven told ABC News. "That was the one that was most timely." Hoeven and Murkowski said they're reaching out to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, hoping she can help release the additional funding to schools. OMB hasn't made a decision yet on how long its review will take. ABC News has reached out to the Education Department for comment. Meanwhile, Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman said at this point unfreezing any aid is a positive first step. "The good news is that we are moving in the right direction," Boozman told ABC News. "Hopefully we can get them [the rest of funding] restored as soon as possible." As the school year approaches, Murkowski stressed that the administration must move quickly. "I don't want to call it cuts yet, because my hope is that they're just unpaused and that they are going to materialize," she said. The senator, who grew up in Alaska and raised her children there, told ABC News that she is hopeful McMahon understands that rural communities will suffer without critical education programs.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge rules Trump administration broke law in takedown of public funding tracker
A federal judge ruled the Trump administration violated federal law by taking down a public website that showed how funding is apportioned to federal agencies, ordering its reinstatement. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled Monday that removal of the online database overseen by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) violated legislation passed by Congress, which requires the OMB to make apportionment decisions publicly available within two business days. 'There is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the public's money. Defendants are therefore required to stop violating the law!' Sullivan wrote in his 60-page opinion. The judge ordered the administration to reinstate the database. But at the Justice Department's request, he paused his order until Thursday morning, so the administration can decide whether it will seek emergency relief from an appeals court. The Hill has reached out to the OMB and the Justice Department for comment. Under the apportionments process, agencies are given limited authority to spend funding allocated by Congress in installments. Congress required the OMB to implement an 'automated system to post each document apportioning an appropriation' as part of a legislative funding deal signed into law in 2022. The office was also ordered to 'operate and maintain' the automated system for 'fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter' in another funding bill that also became law that year. But the website went dark earlier this year after the Trump administration said it could not continue to operate the system, arguing it contained sensitive information that could pose a threat to national security. In court, the administration contended the requirement to post the information is unconstitutional. Sullivan, an appointee of former President Clinton, rejected the argument. He went on to find the administration was violating the two funding deals and the Paperwork Reduction Act's requirement to timely disseminate public information. The ruling sides with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Protect Democracy, which have filed various legal challenges against the administration and sued over the tracker takedown in April. 'When Defendants removed the Public Apportionments Database, they deprived CREW and Protect Democracy of information to which they are statutorily entitled, and which they relied on to monitor government funding, respond to possible legal violations, and provide transparency to the public,' Sullivan wrote. The website's takedown is just one of a series of actions by the administration that have been challenged in court this year, as it's undertaken a sweeping operation to downsize certain parts of government without congressional approval. 'Today's decision makes clear that the executive branch cannot simply ignore appropriations laws they disagree with on policy grounds, no matter what President Trump or OMB Director Russell Vought thinks,' said Cerin Lindgrensavage, counsel at Protect Democracy, in a statement. 'Congress passed a law making sure the American public could see how their taxpayer dollars are being spent, and we will continue to hold the administration accountable for making good on that promise.' In a statement on Monday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, hailed the recent ruling as a 'decisive victory for transparency, the Constitution, and the rule of law.' DeLauro and other senior Democratic negotiators have fiercely opposed the database's takedown in recent months, accusing the administration of removing the tracker to hide its spending decisions at a time it has faced legal challenges over freezing congressionally approved funding. 'When I drafted this requirement—and it was signed into law—it was not about which party held power,' DeLauro said. 'It was about showing the American people how their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being spent in their communities. Now, it is time for the Trump administration to show what it has done with working Americans' money since they broke this basic, bipartisan transparency law.' The Trump administration has also faced bipartisan pressure to restore the apportionments database in recent months. 'It's the law. It's a requirement of the law, so it's not discretionary on OMB's part,' Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) told The Hill earlier this year. Updated at 2:07 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
