WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice has established an Artificial Intelligence Litigation Task Force to challenge state AI regulations that conflict with federal policy, officials said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the creation of the task force in a Jan. 9, 2026, internal memorandum to department employees. The move carries out a directive in a Dec. 11, 2025, executive order signed by President Donald Trump aimed at promoting a national framework for AI development with minimal regulatory burdens.
The task force's sole responsibility is to challenge state AI laws deemed inconsistent with the administration's policy of sustaining U.S. leadership in AI through a minimally burdensome national approach, according to the memorandum. It will pursue challenges on grounds that such laws unconstitutionally regulate interstate commerce, are preempted by existing federal regulations or are otherwise unlawful.
"The Task Force shall challenge such State AI laws on grounds that such laws unconstitutionally regulate interstate commerce, are preempted by existing Federal regulations, or are otherwise unlawful," the memorandum states.
Bondi or her designee will chair the task force, with the Associate Attorney General serving as vice chair. It includes representatives from the offices of the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, the Solicitor General, the Civil Division and other components as designated. The group will consult with White House officials, including the Special Advisor for AI and Crypto, on state laws warranting legal action.
The executive order followed concerns that a patchwork of state regulations could hinder AI innovation, particularly for startups. A handful of states, including California, Colorado, Utah and Texas, have enacted AI-related measures addressing issues such as deepfakes and disclosures about AI interactions.
Critics, including some Democrats in Congress, have opposed the federal effort. In December 2025, Senate Democrats led by Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts introduced legislation to block the executive order, with Markey describing it as an "illegal power grab."
Details on specific lawsuits or targeted state laws remain unclear as of the task force's establishment. The Department of Commerce was directed to evaluate existing state AI laws within 90 days of the executive order and refer potentially conflicting measures to the task force.
The task force represents the latest development in tensions between federal and state authority over emerging technology regulation. No immediate litigation has been publicly announced by the group.
