President Trump issues AI directive to fast‑track national security use and block unlawful surveillance

President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM‑11) and an executive order in early June 2026 that directs the Department of Defense and the intelligence community to accelerate the adoption of advanced artificial‑intelligence systems. The policies require federal agencies to onboard AI models from multiple vendors, build secure high‑performance computing facilities, and create an “AI National Security Strategic Reserve” of non‑governmental experts.

The memo orders Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to update guidance on autonomous weapon systems within 90 days and bars any commercial firm from disabling, degrading, or modifying an AI system used by the military without prior government approval. It also explicitly prohibits the use of AI for unlawful surveillance, censorship, or embedding ideological bias, emphasizing compliance with constitutional protections.

The directives replace a previous Biden‑era framework, aim to reduce single‑vendor dependency, and respond to a dispute with AI firm Anthropic, which had been designated a supply‑chain risk after refusing unrestricted access to its models. The measures are framed as a balance between rapid AI deployment for national security and maintaining oversight and civil‑liberty safeguards.