The power struggle between the federal government and states in the United States has added a new battleground—this time, AI.

On December 11, Trump signed an executive order targeting states that want to regulate AI themselves. How? By establishing an "AI Litigation Task Force" to specifically sue state governments that pass AI laws. At the same time, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission are teaming up to implement the White House's AI plan, bypassing what they see as "burdensome" local regulations.

Even more aggressively, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been authorized to explore whether federal broadband subsidies can be withheld from states that pass "disobedient" AI laws. This move is quite direct.

Trump himself explained the reasoning: "We need to be on the same page. Look at China—do what they say, and they do it. They are united. Our system is different, but good systems must be built on wise decision-making." The implication is clear—his view is that each state doing its own thing is not "wise" enough.

Will federal efforts to impose uniform standards be accepted by state governments? This contest over AI regulatory authority has only just begun.