US Tech Policy: America’s AI Action Plan and Oversight of Digital Platforms
On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios testified during a Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness hearing titled “AI’ve Got a Plan: America’s AI Action Plan.” In his testimony, Kratsios discussed the implementation of the AI Action Plan and his willingness to work with legislators on proposed legislation, including with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on his recently proposed SANDBOX Act. This act would task OSTP to develop a program under which AI developers could apply for a waiver or modification to federal regulations to test their products.
Strategic Innovation and Global Competition
The Trump administration has made AI leadership a day one priority as President Trump rescinded President Biden's AI executive order, which many feared was an over regulatory European styled approach, which would suffocate innovation in startups while seeding important ground to adversarial nations like China. US leadership and technological innovation has been the accelerator that has boosted our economy and growth rates ahead of the rest of the world. AI offers a real chance to help achieve the economic success and enhanced productivity we need to grow our way out of the unsustainable debt path that we're on as a country.
However, as the AI action plan rightly points out, the competition is fierce. The PRC has put forward plans to leverage state resources and capital to make China the global leader in AI by 2030 through their top down status economic model. The PRC wants to direct capital and resources to favored firms to embed AI across industries including manufacturing, agriculture, robotics and services.
Addressing Government "Jawboning" and Big Tech Censorship
In addition to AI strategy, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation convened a full committee hearing titled “Shut Your App: How Uncle Sam Jawboned Big Tech Into Silencing Americans, Part II” on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Senate Republicans renewed allegations that the Biden administration inappropriately coerced social media companies to censor content related to the coronavirus pandemic. The hearing featured testimony from executives at Meta and Google, who testified that while their companies did face pressure from senior Biden administration officials to remove content, they acted independently in deciding how to enforce their policies.
Perspectives from Industry Executives and Lawmakers
During the hearing, lawmakers expressed concern about the prospect of the federal officials coercing tech and media companies into removing material they disfavored. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) teased plans to introduce legislation aimed at curtailing government jawboning, which he said would “provide a robust right to redress when Americans are targeted by their own government.”
Regarding these pressures, Meta’s Neil Potts stated: “To be clear, we believe that government pressure was wrong and wish we’d been more outspoken about it.” Google’s Markham Erickson added that the company has stood firm against government pressure, noting: “We reach our own conclusions and take enforcement action with our own determination, and sometimes that means we tell the government no.”
Key Witnesses and Participants in Tech Policy Hearings
- Michael Kratsios: Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
- Neil Potts: Vice President of Public Policy at Meta.
- Markham Erickson: Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google.
- Will Creeley: Legal Director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
- Harold Feld: Senior Vice President at Public Knowledge.