December 2025 US Tech Policy Roundup

December’s US tech policy agenda was centered on executive action from the White House and a busy close to Congress. President Trump signed an executive order directing several federal agencies to review and potentially challenge state-level AI laws, in an effort to constrain the patchwork of state rules. The administration argued the approach was necessary to support competitiveness, particularly in relation to China. The order drew pushback from governors, lawmakers in both parties, and civil society groups, many of whom questioned its legal basis and objected to the use of threats to federal funding to pressure states to back down on AI regulation, even as Congress has made little progress on the issue.