The secretary would coordinate AI policy across federal agencies and testify before Congress twice a year, but could not issue regulations or enforce laws.
Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) introduced a bill to create a new Cabinet appointment: the Secretary of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Threats. The appointee would set AI policy across all federal agencies. The secretary would have to testify before Congress twice a year.
The Artificial Intelligence Governance and Emerging Threats Act would make the secretary head of a new White House office: the Office of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Threats. Barrett, who announced the bill, says the secretary would sit in the president’s Cabinet. The president would pick the secretary, and the Senate would have to confirm the choice.
Barrett wrote that the office would ensure “a cohesive federal approach to AI.”
The secretary would set federal AI policy and advise the president
The secretary would write the federal government’s AI policy and coordinate how each agency puts it into practice. The secretary would also serve as the president’s top adviser on AI and security threats from other new technologies.
The secretary could send agencies guidance on AI. The bill does not say whether agencies must follow it, and the guidance must fit within each agency’s existing powers.
The secretary’s five deputies would split the work
The president would also appoint five deputies to the secretary, each confirmed by the Senate and each responsible for one area:
- Federal agencies: coordinating AI work among agencies and finding policies that overlap or conflict.
- Other countries: following AI developments abroad and supporting the Secretary of State on international AI agreements.
- Businesses: serving as the office’s contact with businesses working on AI and meeting with them at least twice a year.
- National security: working with the Defense Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the intelligence agencies to track AI threats to the country.
- Jobs: tracking how AI creates and eliminates jobs, and working with the Labor, Commerce, Education, and Treasury departments to prepare workers for those changes.
The secretary would testify before Congress twice a year
The secretary would testify once a year before House committees and once a year before Senate committees, both times in public. Each chamber’s Armed Services, Intelligence, commerce, and foreign affairs committees would participate.
The office could not issue regulations or override other agencies
The bill gives the office no power to issue regulations or enforce laws, and it states that the office takes no authority from any other federal agency. The secretary could use other agencies’ staff and facilities only with their agreement. The bill sets no budget for the office.
Background: Trump named leaders for a White House AI group earlier this month
On Oct. 4, President Trump named four officials to lead the Super Intelligence Force, a group that coordinates the federal government’s AI work and reports to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Trump announced the group in September and named its leaders in a Truth Social post. He has not said the force can write rules, investigate companies, or enforce laws.
The bill text is dated Oct. 9 and does not yet list a bill number, a committee, or cosponsors.
