WASHINGTON (MSI) — President Donald Trump on Friday issued a directive calling for the U.S. military and national security agencies to accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence, while acknowledging the need to protect civil liberties and maintain oversight over autonomous weapon systems.
The memo, obtained by the Associated Press, was addressed to the secretaries of defense and homeland security, the attorney general, and the director of national intelligence. It requires an updated directive on autonomous weapon systems to account for AI’s rapidly evolving capabilities, and directs the Department of Defense “to ensure the deliberate adoption of AI systems that respect the chain of command and operational authorities.”
The directive comes amid growing public anxiety over AI’s impact on American society — from displacing workers to assisting in identifying military targets. The Trump administration has been pushing to expand the military’s use of AI, even as some defense leaders and Pentagon contractors have urged caution and called for guardrails.
Trump’s memo follows months of debate within the administration over AI policy. In late May, the president postponed an executive order on AI hours before it was scheduled to be signed, citing concerns about slowing the U.S. technology lead. That order had not been rescheduled as of Friday.
The latest directive signals that the administration is moving forward with AI integration in national security, with explicit recognition of oversight and civil liberties — issues that have been central to public and congressional debate.