In a shift signaling the federal government’s evolving approach to artificial intelligence (AI), the Trump administration has unveiled a set of policies and strategies aimed at accelerating AI adoption across agencies—but with a clear focus on impact and utility. Moving away from broad-based experimentation, the new guidance calls on federal agencies to prioritize AI projects that offer significant value to operations and services. As the AI race heats up globally, the administration’s latest directives reflect a more calculated and strategic integration of emerging technologies within the federal ecosystem. 

From Exploration to Execution: A Shift in AI Strategy 

The Trump administration’s AI policy, released in early April 2025, marks a departure from earlier federal AI efforts that emphasized pilot projects and innovation hubs. Now, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in collaboration with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), is steering agencies toward implementation of AI in “high-impact” areas. 

This new strategy reflects several priorities: 

• Operational Efficiency: Encouraging agencies to use AI for tasks that can streamline bureaucracy and reduce costs.
• Public Service Delivery: Promoting AI use cases that enhance citizen-facing services, such as benefits processing or emergency response. 
• Risk Management: Guiding agencies to focus on areas where AI can support improved risk assessments and decision-making. 

OMB’s memo on AI use and acquisition guidance emphasizes outcomes over experimentation. Agencies are now expected to identify and justify AI use cases that provide measurable value aligned with their core missions. 

What Counts as “High-Impact” AI? 

While the term “high-impact” might sound vague, the administration has provided specific examples and characteristics of qualifying use cases. These include: 

• Automation of Repetitive Processes 
• Predictive Analytics for Decision Support 
• Enhanced Cybersecurity 
• Public Health Monitoring 

Importantly, agencies are being pushed to prioritize projects that can show near-term results, preferably within a 6- to 18-month window—an indication of the administration’s desire to see real-world outcomes rather than theoretical benefits. 

Key Elements of the New AI Guidance 

1. AI Acquisition Policies 

• Pre-acquisition planning and justification 
• Performance-based contracting 
• Transparency from vendors 

2. Workforce and Skills Alignment 

• Upskilling programs and shared services 
• Cross-agency knowledge sharing 

3. Ethics and Risk Management 

• Bias audits and fairness assessments 
• Documentation and explainability 
• Managerial accountability 

These steps reflect a pragmatic approach: implement AI with purpose, but do so responsibly. 

Trump vs. Biden: Two Paths to Federal AI Strategy 

The Trump administration’s AI approach stands in contrast to the Biden administration’s Executive Order on AI from October 2023. While both frameworks recognize the transformative potential of AI, their focus areas and implementation philosophies differ significantly. 

Trump Administration (2025) – “Impact-First” Strategy 

• Focus: High-impact, mission-aligned use cases 
• Tone: Pro-innovation, pro-deployment, limited new regulation 
• Governance: Leverages existing compliance structures with minimal central oversight 
• Timeline: Emphasis on short-term results (6–18 months) 
• Accountability: Federal managers are responsible; no new AI-specific oversight bodies created 

Biden Administration (2023) – “Guardrails First” Strategy 

• Focus: Risk mitigation, civil rights protections, and responsible innovation 
• Tone: Cautious, proactive regulation of AI use—especially for safety, discrimination, and national security 
• Governance: Established new requirements for model red-teaming, disclosure, and safety evaluations 
• Timeline: Longer-term structural reforms, including procurement rules and public safety reviews 
• Accountability: Centralized oversight from the National AI Initiative Office and agency-specific Chief AI Officers 

In essence, the Biden EO emphasized governance and ethics infrastructure, while Trump’s strategy seeks tangible operational wins. Biden laid the groundwork for safer AI, while Trump is aiming for faster, scalable use. 

A Pro-Growth, Pro-Tech Message 

The broader political message of the Trump administration’s AI push is clear: embrace innovation, but do so pragmatically. Officials have repeatedly emphasized that AI should not be feared, but rather harnessed in ways that bolster government effectiveness. 

Key themes from the administration’s AI rhetoric include: 

• Competitiveness 
• Decentralized Innovation 
• Regulatory Clarity 

This reflects a pro-tech, pro-growth stance that aims to move beyond hype and into execution. 

What’s Next for Federal AI? 

With the release of this new guidance, agencies are expected to submit updated AI use case inventories and progress reports. The emphasis will be on results—what AI has delivered, where it has succeeded, and what barriers remain.  

Looking ahead, we can expect: 

• More Targeted Funding 
• Public Scrutiny 
• Cross-Agency Models 

The key will be the OMB AI Action plan. It was originally intended to be released in late March, but it required a public comment period. With over 8,000 comments, we now expect this to come in July. If consistent with their prior terms AI policy, we expect much less regulation of foundational models than under Biden, but still respectful of laws as reflected in this quote from Quinn Anex-Ries, senior policy analyst on the Center for Democracy and Technology’s Equity in Civic Technology team, saying, “Regardless of what happens at the federal level, state and local governments have an obligation to ensure that public agencies’ use of AI is transparent, safe, and aligned with existing legal obligations.” 

The Trump administration’s AI policy reboot aims to move the federal government from pilots to performance. By emphasizing “high-impact” use cases and providing agencies with clearer acquisition guidance, the White House is signaling that the era of AI experimentation is giving way to execution. Whether this strategy leads to more efficient government, improved public services, or greater innovation remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the race to harness AI’s full potential in government is far from over, and it’s picking up speed.