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EO 13960Executive OrderTrump 45 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 13960

Promoting the Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government

This executive order establishes principles for trustworthy AI use across federal civilian agencies, requiring inventories of AI use cases, public roadmaps for policy guidance, and mechanisms to ensure AI systems respect privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. It excludes national security and defense systems while mandating transparency, accountability, and human oversight in government AI applications.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 78939

Impact dates

  1. OMB publicly posts roadmap for AI policy guidance creation/revision

  2. Agencies prepare first inventory of AI use cases (180 days after CIO Council completes 5(a))

  3. Agencies implement approved plans (180 days after plan approval)

  4. OPM issues report on rotational programs (180 days after inventory creation under 7(b))

  5. Agencies make inventories public and develop remediation/retirement plans (120 days after inventory completion)

  6. PIF program establishes AI track to attract industry/academia experts

  7. CIO Council identifies criteria, format, mechanisms for agency AI use case inventories

  8. Agencies share inventories with other agencies (60 days after inventory completion)

  9. CIO Council publishes list of recommended interagency bodies and forums

  10. OPM creates inventory of Federal rotational programs for AI expertise expansion

  11. Agencies designate responsible officials for AI implementation coordination

Key directives

  • OMB Director to publicly post roadmap for AI policy guidance within 180 days
  • CIO Council to identify criteria and mechanisms for agency AI use case inventories within 60 days
  • Each agency to prepare annual inventory of non-classified, non-sensitive AI use cases
  • Agencies to assess existing AI for inconsistencies with order and develop remediation or retirement plans within 120 days of inventory completion
  • Agencies to implement approved plans within 180 days of approval
  • Agencies to share inventories with other agencies within 60 days of completion
  • Agencies to make inventories public within 120 days of completion
  • CIO Council to publish recommended interagency bodies within 45 days
  • PIF program to establish AI track within 90 days
  • OPM to create inventory of rotational programs within 45 days and issue recommendations report within 180 days of inventory creation
  • Each agency to designate responsible official(s) within 30 days

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Agencies must designate responsible officials within 30 days
  • CIO Council to publish list of interagency bodies within 45 days
  • OPM to begin inventory of rotational programs within 45 days

Near term (90d)

  • CIO Council to establish inventory criteria/format within 60 days
  • PIF program to establish AI track within 90 days
  • Agencies to begin preparing AI use case inventories after CIO Council completes 5(a)

Long term

  • OMB roadmap for AI policy guidance due within 180 days
  • Agency AI inventories due 180 days after CIO Council completes 5(a), then annually
  • Agencies must assess AI consistency and develop remediation plans 120 days after inventory completion
  • Public release of inventories 120 days after completion
  • OPM report on rotational programs 180 days after inventory creation

Risks & tensions

  • Multiple interdependent deadlines create cascading delay risk if CIO Council misses 60-day inventory criteria deadline
  • 'To the extent practicable' and 'consistent with applicable law' appear frequently, creating enforcement ambiguity
  • Exclusion of defense/national security systems leaves significant AI use unaddressed by these principles
  • Annual inventory requirement lacks sunset or review mechanism, creating perpetual compliance burden
  • Resource constraints ('subject to existing resource levels') may limit plan implementation
  • Overlap with existing OMB policies (Sec. 4(a)) may create confusion about which guidance takes precedence
Executive Order 13960: Promoting the Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government · Executive Orders