WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order establishing a new artificial intelligence cybersecurity clearinghouse intended to coordinate the identification and remediation of software vulnerabilities across government systems and critical infrastructure, the White House said.
The order, signed on June 2 and released by the White House, directs federal agencies to strengthen cyber defenses while expanding cooperation with private-sector AI developers. The measure creates an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse that will operate on a voluntary basis with technology companies and operators of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, utilities and financial institutions.
According to the executive order, the clearinghouse will help identify, validate and prioritize software vulnerabilities and coordinate the distribution of security patches. The administration said the initiative is designed to improve defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats while supporting continued development of advanced AI systems.
“Advanced AI capabilities make our Nation stronger, but also introduce new national security considerations that require coordinated action,” the executive order states. The White House said the program seeks to balance innovation with security and explicitly does not create mandatory licensing or pre-clearance requirements for AI models.
The order also directs the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Management and Budget, and other agencies to expand access to AI-enabled cybersecurity tools for federal agencies, state and local governments, and critical infrastructure operators. In addition, the administration ordered the development of cybersecurity benchmarks for advanced AI systems and called for increased hiring of cybersecurity personnel across the federal government.
The action follows weeks of discussion within the administration about how to address cybersecurity risks associated with rapidly advancing AI technologies. Earlier drafts reportedly contemplated more extensive government review of advanced AI models before public release, but the final version adopted a voluntary framework after concerns were raised by industry representatives about potential effects on innovation and competitiveness.
Under the framework, developers of certain advanced AI models may voluntarily provide the federal government with early access to systems identified as having significant cybersecurity capabilities. The administration said the process is intended to help protect critical infrastructure and improve understanding of emerging risks.
Technology companies and industry groups have generally welcomed efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, although views differ on the appropriate level of government involvement in AI oversight. Some experts have called for stronger safeguards, while others have warned against regulations that could slow development of U.S. AI technologies.
As of Friday, federal agencies were beginning implementation of the order. The White House said several departments face deadlines in the coming weeks to establish operational guidance, expand cybersecurity programs and begin work on the new AI cybersecurity clearinghouse.
