Bipartisan Support for President Trump’s AI Action Plan
Doug Kelly, CEO of the American Edge Project: “President Trump’s AI Action Plan is a giant leap forward in the race to secure American leadership in artificial intelligence. By prioritizing innovation, infrastructure, talent, and global reach, the plan confronts key barriers to American competitiveness, begins to fill long-standing gaps in our national strategy, and helps position the U.S. to beat China in this high-stakes tech race. Agencies must now move quickly to implement the plan and refrain from taking actions that actively undermine the very AI companies investing billions to keep America ahead. Congress also has a critical role to play by codifying this plan into law and addressing remaining investment gaps, especially in areas like workforce development, infrastructure connectivity, and cyber protections. Time is of the essence: China has had a national plan for global AI leadership since 2017, and is executing it relentlessly with talent, infrastructure, state-backed investment, and international influence. This is our moonshot moment. Now is the time for the country to rally together behind a shared, national mission to win the AI race. The stakes could not be higher.”
Former U.S. Representative Chris Carney (D-PA), Member, AEP Board of Directors: “As a lifelong Democrat, I rarely agree with President Trump on any issue. But the AI Action Plan he released today is a solid first step in ensuring we don’t surrender America’s technological leadership. It hits all the areas we need—innovation, infrastructure, and global influence. Now Congress must act to turn this plan into law so it can’t be undone by the next administration.”
Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Kent Conrad (D-ND), Members, AEP Economic Advisory Board: “This Administration recognizes that AI is America’s modern-day moonshot. This plan is long overdue—and it finally gives us a national strategy to compete with China and protect our economic future. Both parties should rally behind this moment and meet the challenge head-on.”
Former U.S. Representatives Greg Walden (R-OR) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), AEP Open & Accessible Internet Advisors: “Tech is never neutral—it reflects the values of those who build it. The President’s AI plan will help ensure that American innovation—not authoritarian systems—shape the global future. A free and open internet, rooted in transparency and liberty, must remain our competitive edge.”
Frances Townsend, Former White House Homeland Security Advisor, AEP National Security Advisor: “We can’t afford to let foreign adversaries dictate the rules of emerging tech. President Trump’s AI Action Plan is a vital step in shoring up cyber defenses, securing our critical infrastructure, and ensuring American values lead in the digital era.”
Governor Susana Martinez (R-NM), Member, AEP Board of Directors: “AI has the power to transform everything from healthcare to education to national defense. The President’s plan shows that he understands the importance of this moment and is treating it with the urgency it deserves. Now we need bipartisan action to move it forward and make it stick.”
Brad Smith, Former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Founder of the Institute for Free Speech, and Member, AEP Board of Directors: “Americans shouldn’t have to choose between AI models that are biased, and ones censored by foreign regimes. The President’s plan gets this right. By backing neutral AI and encouraging the spread of open-source models, it gives developers and users access to transparent systems rooted in American values like free speech and open debate. That’s essential if we want the digital future to reflect who we are, not China’s vision of tech as a tool for control.”
General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, AEP National Security Board Advisor: “AI has profound implications for future conflict. It has already impacted the character of war in areas that include cyber operations, intelligence, and autonomous weapons systems. This plan strengthens our AI infrastructure and will help ensure that our men and women in uniform have the competitive advantage they need to deter, fight, and win.”
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