STAT+: Top HHS official evades discussing Trump plan to block state AI laws

WASHINGTON — During wide-ranging comments on technology Wednesday, deputy health secretary Jim O’Neill demurred when asked about a controversial proposal to prevent states from enforcing local artificial intelligence laws.

“I’ll evade, if that’s alright,” said O’Neill. President Trump on Monday indicated in a Truth Social post that he would sign a “one rule executive order” arguing that “there must be only one rulebook if we are going to continue to lead in AI.” Earlier this year, a House bill that would have blocked state AI laws for 10 years gained momentum before it was scuttled. Rather than address the current high-profile policy issue, O’Neill recalled how he publicly opposed previous efforts to pass AI laws in California.

“I think it’s important that we all fight regulation at the state level, regardless of what the federal government does on preemption,” he said in a conversation with Joe Grogan, a conservative public policy adviser, during an AI health policy summit.

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