President Donald Trump signs AI executive order to boost cybersecurity

On June 2 2026 President Donald Trump signed an executive order designed to speed artificial‑intelligence innovation while bolstering cyber defenses for federal systems, the military and critical infrastructure. The order tasks the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies with issuing directives that expand AI‑powered cybersecurity tools, create an AI‑cybersecurity clearinghouse for vulnerability coordination, and identify funding and hiring opportunities for advanced AI security technologies.

The directive also establishes a classified benchmarking process to label certain systems as “covered frontier models,” enabling voluntary cooperation between AI developers and the government and allowing trusted partners early access to advanced models. It explicitly avoids mandatory licensing or pre‑clearance of AI models, but directs the Attorney General to pursue enforcement against illegal AI‑aided hacking. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner criticized the order as a rehash of earlier proposals, though he welcomed provisions for voluntary testing and information sharing.