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President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders on Wednesday aimed at curbing what he described as “woke AI” in the federal government, directing agencies to use only artificial intelligence systems that are ideologically neutral and focused on accuracy.
The main order prohibits federal agencies from contracting with AI providers unless their models are deemed “truth seeking” and free from ideological bias. Trump said the move is necessary to prevent distortion of information by politically motivated algorithms.
“Artificial intelligence will play a critical role in how Americans of all ages learn new skills, consume information, and navigate their daily lives,” the order states. “Americans will require reliable outputs from AI, but when ideological biases or social agendas are built into AI models, they can distort the quality and accuracy of the output.”
Trump specifically cited diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as a primary source of bias in AI models. He argued that DEI policies prioritize preferred outcomes over factual accuracy, thereby compromising the reliability of artificial intelligence.
“DEI displaces the commitment to truth in favor of preferred outcomes and, as recent history illustrates, poses an existential threat to reliable AI,” Trump said during the signing ceremony.
He pointed to examples in which AI-generated images allegedly altered the race or sex of historical figures, including the pope and America’s founding fathers, as evidence of what he called a distorted ideological agenda embedded in AI platforms.
In addition to the AI order, Trump signed two other executive orders. One order encouraged the construction and expansion of domestic data centers and semiconductor manufacturing facilities, while another launched the “American AI Exports Program,” designed to promote U.S. leadership in global AI markets.
The announcements came during an AI summit held in Washington, D.C., where Trump outlined his three-part strategy for advancing U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence development, infrastructure, and regulation.
The moves follow past efforts by the president to restore fairness against DEI programs.
“In January, President Trump signed executive actions to end radical and wasteful DEI programs and preferencing, terminate radical DEI preferencing in Federal contracting and spending, eliminate DEI and restore excellence and safety within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and abolish DEI bureaucracy within the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security,” a White House fact sheet noted.
