AsianFin — U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sweeping Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan on Tuesday, outlining dozens of federal initiatives aimed at accelerating AI development, easing regulatory burdens, and boosting the export of American AI technologies. The move signals a sharp departure from policies enacted during the Biden administration, with an emphasis on deregulation and infrastructure expansion.

The White House document details key policy shifts, including fast-tracking data center construction and encouraging U.S. AI exports. Trump signed several executive orders in conjunction with the plan, asserting in a Washington, D.C. speech that AI should not be hindered by “foolish or even absurd” rules. “We need smart, not stupid, regulation,” he said.

The action plan also proposes repealing regulations the Trump team views as barriers to innovation—specifically those tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and climate-related environmental standards. These measures were hallmark initiatives under President Biden’s AI governance approach.

In a more aggressive stance, the document recommends that federal agencies consider state-level AI regulatory environments when allocating funding. States with restrictive or bureaucratic AI rules could see their access to federal AI funding curtailed. According to the plan, taxpayer dollars should not support states with “inefficient, innovation-stifling regulation.”

Analysts see the plan as part of Trump’s broader tech-focused platform for a potential return to office in 2025, positioning the U.S. as a global AI powerhouse while weakening federal oversight in favor of industry-led growth.