Oppose Federal Interference in State-Level AI Regulation

I am writing to express my strong opposition to any federal attempts to eliminate state-level artificial intelligence (AI) regulations. The current efforts by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to impose a federal standard at the expense of state autonomy are deeply concerning and potentially harmful to our democratic process. The proposed measures, including attempts to add a ban on state-level AI regulation to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act and the preparation of an executive order to block state AI laws, are misguided and premature. There is currently no comprehensive federal AI law in place, which means that eliminating state regulations would leave AI governance in a dangerous regulatory vacuum. The draft executive order's provisions are particularly alarming. Directing the US Attorney General to challenge state AI laws, proposing to withhold crucial funding from states with AI regulations, and asking the FTC to declare state-level AI rules illegal under interstate commerce protections all represent an overreach of federal power that undermines the principles of federalism. Over 250 organizations, including respected entities like Mozilla and SAG-AFTRA, have voiced their opposition to this ban. Their concerns are well-founded, as eliminating state regulations without adequate federal standards would primarily benefit large tech companies while reducing accountability and consumer protections. The argument for "one federal standard instead of 50 state regulatory regimes" oversimplifies the complex nature of AI technology and its varied applications across different sectors and localities. States often serve as crucial laboratories for policy innovation, allowing for tailored approaches that can inform more effective federal legislation in the future. The Center for American Progress has rightly warned against centralizing control at the expense of state power in AI governance. This approach could stifle innovation, ignore regional differences, and potentially leave citizens vulnerable to the unintended consequences of rapidly evolving AI technologies. I urge you to oppose any legislation or executive actions that would preempt state-level AI regulations. Instead, I ask that you support a collaborative approach that respects state authority while working towards thoughtful, comprehensive federal AI legislation that complements rather than supersedes state efforts. This balanced approach will ensure better protection for constituents and foster responsible AI development that benefits all Americans.