For immediate release December 16, 2025
Contact: Naomi Hess, nhess@aapd.com
Washington, D.C. – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) strongly condemns the Trump Administration’s Executive Order (EO), “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence” that prevents states from regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. This EO comes after many failed attempts by Congress to limit the ability of states to regulate AI technologies, including proposed moratoriums in the budget reconciliation bill passed in July, and in the National Defense Authorization Act. Restricting states from regulating AI undermines civil rights protections for people with disabilities and the principle of federalism in the Constitution.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. It powers most technologies today, including smartphone applications, home appliances, assistive technologies, and tools used in schools, universities, and workplaces. While AI holds immense potential to enhance independent living and capabilities of people with disabilities, it also poses significant risks. AI amplifies existing social stigma against people with disabilities and discriminates against disabled candidates applying for jobs. It also poses significant threats to the privacy of disabled people and creates new accessibility barriers.
In the absence of strong federal protections against such risks, state regulations have been an important measure to ensure that AI benefits everyone and does not harm people with disabilities, consumers, workers, and other vulnerable groups. Existing and proposed legislation in states such as Colorado, Illinois, California, and New York require accountability for AI-based discrimination, mandate auditing and testing of tools, and impose new mitigation measures in instances where AI harms people. States are stepping in to fill the regulatory gap left by the absence of federal action .This is a role that state regulation frequently plays in the context of new and emerging policy issues.
This Executive Order is an illegal attempt to do what Congress has chosen not to do, to override important legislation states have enacted to require transparency and protections in AI. It creates a special task force at the Department of Justice to challenge state laws, and threatens to restrict federal funding for states who pass laws that, in the opinion of the White House alone, are too “onerous.” The EO specifically threatens funding restrictions under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The BEAD program is a $42.45 billion federal grant program that aims to connect every American to high-speed internet. It is an immensely important program for building internet and broadband infrastructure for unserved and underserved areas, and to solve the huge connectivity gap experienced by disabled people.
“This EO undermines the ability of states to enforce and protect the civil rights of people with disabilities in emerging AI technologies”, said Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD. “It also unjustifiably claims that some state laws preventing algorithmic discrimination against protected groups such as women, people of color, and people with disabilities may force AI models to produce false results”, Town continued. “The administration is using federal dollars to prevent states from protecting the interests of their vulnerable constituents”, Town concluded.
AAPD has been working with state-based disability advocates, state legislatures, and state government offices to ensure state regulations adequately address the rights of people with disabilities. AAPD strongly supports the creation of a clear federal framework that ensures AI technologies comply with civil rights statutes. However, an executive order that threatens to withhold essential broadband funding as a means of pressuring states is unacceptable. We support state governors, attorney generals, and legislators in opposing the moratorium.