Trump signs directive to develop AI capabilities for national security

President Trump signed an executive order on June 2 titled “Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security,” directing the federal government to aggressively integrate advanced AI systems across military and intelligence operations. Three days later, a follow-up National Security Presidential Memorandum, NSPM-11, formalized the governance framework around those AI systems.

The directive rescinds the Biden administration’s National Security Memorandum-25 from 2024, replacing it with a policy that emphasizes speed and scale in AI adoption.

What the directive actually does

The executive order builds on Trump’s earlier AI initiatives, including a 2019 executive order and the 2025 America’s AI Action Plan.

First, it mandates voluntary federal vetting of advanced AI models before deployment, with a review window of up to 30 days before release.

Second, it creates a talent reserve specifically for AI-related national security work.

Third, it establishes strict requirements for government control over national-security AI systems, specifically designed to prevent unauthorized modifications.

The directive also includes a classified annex that is set to be released within 90 days of signing.

Agencies directed to implement these changes include the Department of War and relevant military and intelligence components. The policy specifically calls for integrating sophisticated AI models from multiple providers.

The private sector angle

The directive explicitly calls for voluntary cooperation with private sector entities to conduct comprehensive security reviews of frontier AI systems.

The directive prioritizes cybersecurity and safeguarding of American intellectual property.

For AI companies specifically, the 30-day pre-release review window introduces a new variable into product launch timelines.

What this means for crypto and digital assets

The executive order contains no references to cryptocurrency tokens or digital assets.

The classified annex, expected within 90 days, could reveal more about how the government plans to leverage AI for financial surveillance and cybersecurity enforcement.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.