President Trump Signs Executive Order on AI Innovation and Cybersecurity

On June 2, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14409, "Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security." The order aims to promote artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and security by working with the private sector to modernize information systems, protect American intellectual property, and cultivate advanced AI capabilities.

The EO directs several federal agencies to prioritize cybersecurity efforts within thirty days.^Footnote1 The Committee on National Security Systems and the Department of War are instructed to prioritize the cyber defense of national security systems and defense information systems, respectively. The Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is directed to issue guidance to accelerate cyber defense efforts across civilian federal agencies, expand federal programs that support AI-enabled cybersecurity tools, and facilitate access to cybersecurity services for state and local governments and critical infrastructure operators. The Department of the Treasury has been charged with establishing an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse, in collaboration with AI companies and critical infrastructure operators, to coordinate software vulnerability discovery, validation, remediation, and patch distribution. Finally, the Office of Management and Budget must evaluate whether existing federal grant funding can support advanced AI vulnerability detection efforts, and the Office of Personnel Management is directed to expand federal cybersecurity hiring pathways.

The EO also establishes a voluntary framework for the deployment of advanced AI models. Within sixty days, federal agencies must develop a classified benchmarking process to assess the advanced cyber capabilities of AI systems and determine when a model qualifies as a "covered frontier model." The agencies are also tasked with designing a voluntary framework with AI developers through which the developers could voluntarily engage with the federal government to determine whether their systems meet the covered frontier model designation. This framework would also allow developers to provide the government with access to covered frontier models up to thirty days before they release the model to other trusted partners. According to the EO, participating developers may also collaborate with federal agencies to identify trusted partners that could receive early access to those models to strengthen cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. Notably, the EO states that it does not authorize the creation of a mandatory government licensing, permitting, or preclearance process for the development, publication, release, or distribution of AI models.

Finally, the Attorney General is directed to prioritize enforcement of existing federal criminal laws against individuals who use AI to unlawfully access computer systems, damage networks, or facilitate other criminal activity.

The EO follows an earlier version that the President was expected to sign in late May 2026 but ultimately rejected following pushback from the AI industry.^Footnote2 Trump said at the time that he did not want to take actions that could hinder U.S. competitiveness in AI.

According to reports, the unsigned draft closely resembled the June order, including its classified benchmarking process, "covered frontier model" designation, and provisions for voluntary developer engagement and trusted-partner access. The most significant change in the final version concerned the prerelease review window. The draft would have asked AI developers to voluntarily submit covered models for government review up to ninety days before public release, while the signed EO shortened that period to thirty days. Industry representatives had argued that the longer timeline would slow product releases.^Footnote3

The executive order does not impose new regulatory obligations for the higher education community. It does, however, signal continued federal interest in AI-enabled cybersecurity tools, the protection of critical infrastructure, and collaboration between government and AI developers. EDUCAUSE will continue to monitor federal AI and cybersecurity policy developments.

Notes

1. Executive Order No. 14409, "Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security," Federal Register 91, no. 108 (June 5, 2026): 34565. Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.↩
2. Sophia Cai, Cheyenne Haslett, and Aaron Mak, "Trump Finds an AI Policy He Can Live With," Politico, June 2, 2026. Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.↩
3. Sophia Cai, "Read Trump's Unsigned AI Executive Order," Politico, May 22, 2026.Jump back to footnote 3 in the text. ↩

Bailey Graves is a Senior Associate at Ulman Public Policy.

Rachel Song is a Policy Research Intern at Ulman Public Policy.