WASHINGTON — The Trump administration issued a new directive on artificial intelligence in national security, directing accelerated adoption of advanced AI systems across the military and intelligence community while establishing governance measures for responsible use.
President Donald J. Trump signed the National Security Presidential Memorandum-11 (NSPM-11) on June 5, 2026, the White House said. The memorandum, titled “Artificial Intelligence in the National Security Enterprise,” rescinds and replaces the Biden administration’s NSM-25, which officials described as outdated and overly restrictive.
The directive instructs the Department of War, intelligence agencies and other national security entities to accelerate AI integration to enhance operational effectiveness, maintain technological overmatch against adversaries and protect warfighters. It emphasizes partnerships with the private sector to onboard advanced commercial and open-source models from multiple vendors, reducing reliance on single providers.
“Artificial intelligence (AI) will be among the most transformative technologies to national security in the history of the United States,” the memorandum states. “When adopted appropriately, AI can help protect our warfighters during peacetime and on the battlefield, enable precise operations that minimize harm to civilians, and ensure the United States continues to maintain technical overmatch against our adversaries and strategic competitors.”
Key provisions direct the rapid adaptation of commercial AI technologies for mission use, assurance that systems remain robust, steerable and controllable, and reinforcement of accountability under the constitutional chain of command. The memorandum prohibits the use of AI for censoring free speech, embedding ideological bias or conducting unlawful surveillance, according to the document.
It also calls for an updated Department of War directive on autonomy in weapon systems within 90 days, with annual reviews thereafter. Agencies must review procurement processes to speed deployment of frontier models and develop a roadmap for secure computing resources, including high-security AI facilities and test ranges. A classified annex is expected within 90 days.
The directive further establishes an AI National Security Strategic Reserve of non-governmental experts and directs efforts to secure U.S. AI technologies against threats such as malicious distillation attacks through partnerships with private companies.
The action follows a separate executive order signed by Trump on June 2, 2026, titled “Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security.” That order focused on broader innovation, voluntary pre-release cybersecurity reviews of frontier models by government agencies for up to 30 days, and hardening of federal systems.
Administration officials have described the NSPM-11 as part of a broader strategy to deliver the most advanced AI capabilities to U.S. forces while safeguarding civil liberties and national security. Details on implementation timelines for specific elements remain subject to further guidance.
The memorandum applies to national security systems and directs coordination across multiple departments, including State, Treasury, War, Energy, Homeland Security and intelligence agencies. Officials said the changes aim to address prior bureaucratic hurdles and single-vendor dependencies that had slowed adoption.
No immediate reactions from congressional leaders or external groups were detailed in official announcements. The White House indicated ongoing collaboration with industry partners to support the directive’s goals.
The full text of NSPM-11 and related guidance will guide further updates to policies across the national security enterprise.
