On February 6, the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (“OSTP”) and National Science Foundation (“NSF”) issued a Request for Information (“RFI”) seeking public input on the “Development of an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan.”  The RFI marks a first step toward the implementation of the Trump Administration’s January 23 Executive Order 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence” (the “EO”).  Specifically, the EO directs Assistant to the President for Science & Technology (and OSTP Director nominee) Michael Kratsios, White House AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz to “develop and submit to the President an action plan” to achieve the EO’s policy of “sustain[ing] and enhance[ing] America’s global AI dominance” to “promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security.” 

The RFI calls for public input on “the highest priority policy actions that should be in the new AI Action Plan,” while noting that the Trump Administration’s January 20 EO 14148 revoked the Biden Administration’s October 2023 AI EO on the “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence” due to its “burdensome government requirements restricting private sector AI development and deployment.”  Although responses are invited to address any relevant AI policy topic, the RFI lists 20 AI policy topics for potential public comment: 

  1. Hardware and chips,
  2. Data centers,
  3. Energy consumption and efficiency,
  4. Model development,
  5. Open source development,
  6. Application and use in the private sector or by government,
  7. Explainability and assurance of AI model outputs,
  8. Cybersecurity,
  9. Data privacy and security throughout the AI system development and deployment lifecycle, including security against AI model attacks,
  10. Risks,
  11. Regulation and governance,
  12. Technical and safety standards,
  13. National security and defense,
  14. Research and development,
  15. Education and workforce,
  16. Innovation and competition,
  17. Intellectual property,
  18. Procurement,
  19. International collaboration, and
  20. Export controls.  

The RFI encourages respondents to “suggest concrete AI policy actions” for these topics.  Responses to the RFI are due on March 15, 2025.  Under the EO, the finalized AI Action Plan must be submitted to the President by mid-October of 2025. 

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Photo of Holly Fechner Holly Fechner

Holly Fechner has two decades of legal, legislative and public policy experience in the public and private sectors.  Ms. Fechner has a broad-based practice handling legislative and regulatory matters for clients in areas including healthcare, tax, intellectual property, education, and employee benefits.  Drawing…

Holly Fechner has two decades of legal, legislative and public policy experience in the public and private sectors.  Ms. Fechner has a broad-based practice handling legislative and regulatory matters for clients in areas including healthcare, tax, intellectual property, education, and employee benefits.  Drawing on her extensive congressional and private sector experience, Ms. Fechner offers clients comprehensive advocacy services, including strategic advice, substantive legal and regulatory expertise, and policy and message development.  She has a proven track record in assisting clients fulfill their government affairs goals.

Photo of Jennifer Johnson Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson is co-chair of the firm’s Communications & Media Practice Group.  She represents and advises broadcast licensees, trade associations, and other media entities on a wide range of issues, including:  regulatory and policy advocacy; network affiliation and other programming agreements; media joint…

Jennifer Johnson is co-chair of the firm’s Communications & Media Practice Group.  She represents and advises broadcast licensees, trade associations, and other media entities on a wide range of issues, including:  regulatory and policy advocacy; network affiliation and other programming agreements; media joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions; carriage negotiations with cable, satellite and telco companies; media ownership and attribution; and other strategic, regulatory and transactional matters.

Ms. Johnson assists clients in developing and pursuing strategic business and policy objectives before the Federal Communications Commission and Congress and through transactions and other business arrangements.  Her broadcast clients draw particular benefit from her deep experience and knowledge with respect to network/affiliate issues, retransmission consent arrangements, and other policy and business issues facing the industry.  Ms. Johnson also assists investment clients in structuring, evaluating and pursuing potential media investments.  She has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Chambers USA, Legal 500 USA,Washington DC Super Lawyers, and the Washingtonian as a leading lawyer in her field.

Matthew Shapanka

Matthew Shapanka draws on more than 15 years of experience – including on Capitol Hill, at Covington, and in state government – to advise and counsel clients across a range of industries on significant legislative, regulatory, and enforcement matters. He develops and executes…

Matthew Shapanka draws on more than 15 years of experience – including on Capitol Hill, at Covington, and in state government – to advise and counsel clients across a range of industries on significant legislative, regulatory, and enforcement matters. He develops and executes complex, multifaceted public policy initiatives for clients seeking actions by Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state government agencies, many with significant legal and political opportunities and risks.

Matt rejoined Covington after serving as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, where he advised Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on all legal, policy, and oversight matters within the Committee’s jurisdiction, including federal election law and campaign finance, and oversight of the Federal Election Commission, legislative branch agencies, security and maintenance of the U.S. Capitol Complex, and Senate rules and regulations.

Most significantly, Matt led the Rules Committee staff work on the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act – landmark bipartisan legislation to update the antiquated process of certifying and counting electoral votes in presidential elections that President Biden signed into law in 2022.

As Chief Counsel, Matt was a lead attorney on the joint bipartisan investigation (with the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee) into the security planning and response to the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. In that role, he oversaw the collection review of documents, led interviews and depositions of key government officials, advised the Chairwoman and Committee members on two high-profile joint hearings, and drafted substantial portions of the Committees’ staff report on the attack. He also led oversight of the Capitol Police, Architect of the Capitol, Senate Sergeant at Arms, and executive branch agencies involved in implementing the Committees’ recommendations, including additional legislation and hearings.

Both in Congress and at the firm, Matt has prepared many corporate and nonprofit executives, academics, government officials, and presidential nominees for testimony at legislative, oversight, or nomination hearings before congressional committees, as well as witnesses appearing at congressional depositions and transcribed interviews. He is also an experienced legislative drafter who has composed dozens of bills introduced in Congress and state legislatures, including several that have been enacted into law across multiple policy areas.

In addition to his policy work, Matt advises and represents clients on the full range of political law compliance and enforcement matters involving federal election, campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics laws, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “Pay-to-Play” rule, as well as the election and political laws of states and municipalities across the country.

Before law school, Matt worked as a research analyst in the Massachusetts Recovery & Reinvestment Office, where he worked on all aspects of state-level policy, communications, and compliance for federal stimulus funding awarded to Massachusetts under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. He has also worked for federal, state, and local political candidates in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

August Gweon

August Gweon counsels national and multinational companies on data privacy, cybersecurity, antitrust, and technology policy issues, including issues related to artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. August leverages his experiences in AI and technology policy to help clients understand complex technology developments, risks…

August Gweon counsels national and multinational companies on data privacy, cybersecurity, antitrust, and technology policy issues, including issues related to artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. August leverages his experiences in AI and technology policy to help clients understand complex technology developments, risks, and policy trends.

August regularly provides advice to clients for complying with federal, state, and global privacy and competition frameworks and AI regulations. He also assists clients in investigating compliance issues, preparing for federal and state privacy regulations like the California Privacy Rights Act, responding to government inquiries and investigations, and engaging in public policy discussions and rulemaking processes.