TLDR:
- Trump signed an executive order creating a White House Task Force on AI Education
- The order prioritizes AI in teacher training grants and directs the National Science Foundation to focus on AI education research
- The initiative includes a Presidential AI Challenge to showcase student and educator achievements
- The order instructs Education and Labor Departments to create AI courses and certification programs for high school students
- Implementation concerns exist due to recent cuts to the Department of Education
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 23rd aimed at expanding artificial intelligence education across the United States. The order establishes a national initiative to prepare American students for careers in one of the world’s fastest-growing technologies.
This move follows Trump’s January executive order that removed barriers to US leadership in AI by reversing restrictions imposed during the Biden administration. The new directive creates a dedicated White House Task Force on AI Education to lead the administration’s efforts in this area.
The task force will be chaired by Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. It includes other key officials such as the Secretaries of Energy, Agriculture, Education, and Labor, along with David Sacks, the White House Special Advisor for AI and Cryptocurrency.
“America’s youth need opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology,” the White House stated. “Early training in AI will demystify this technology and prepare America’s students to be confident participants in the AI-assisted workforce, propelling our nation to new heights of scientific and economic achievement.”
Practical Implementation Steps
The order instructs the US Education and Labor Departments to establish opportunities for high school students to take AI courses and certification programs. They will also work with states to promote AI education more broadly.
The Secretary of Education has been directed to prioritize AI in discretionary teacher training grants. This aligns with the White House’s statement that “Preparing our students to be leaders in AI technology also requires investing in our educators, providing them with the tools and knowledge to both train students about AI and utilize the technology in the classroom.”
Additionally, the Director of the National Science Foundation has been instructed to focus research on AI applications in education. The Labor Department will expand AI-related apprenticeships, which have been embraced by both Democrats and Republicans as essential alternatives to college.
The Presidential AI Challenge
A key component of the initiative is the creation of a Presidential AI Challenge. This program will showcase student and educator achievements in AI, boost adoption across different geographic areas, and promote collaboration between government, academia, philanthropy, and industry.
“The Challenge shall encourage and highlight student and educator achievements in AI, promote wide geographic adoption of technological advancement, and foster collaboration between government, academia, philanthropy, and industry to address national challenges with AI solutions,” according to the White House.
Questions remain about how the administration will implement these initiatives, especially following cuts to the US Department of Education enacted by Trump in March. The Education Department continues to operate but with only half of its previous workforce, following orders signed by Trump to downsize the agency.
The order was one of seven education-related directives Trump signed on April 23. Other orders targeted “woke ideology” in university accreditation, reinforced disclosure requirements for foreign gifts to colleges, and created a new White House initiative to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Before signing the order in the Oval Office, Trump commented, “This is a big deal, because AI seems to be where it’s at.” He added, “We have literally trillions of dollars being invested in AI. Somebody today, a very smart person, said that AI is the way to the future. I don’t know if that’s right or not, but certainly very smart people are investing in it.”
The executive order reflects bipartisan concern about how best to incorporate AI into teaching. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed fears about American students falling behind other nations, particularly China, as technology becomes more advanced and integrated into the workforce.
A bipartisan congressional report from December 2024 stated that “K-12 educators need resources to promote AI literacy,” but acknowledged that AI in schools must be deployed within the bounds of labor and antidiscrimination laws.
Despite agreement on the need to embrace AI in education, conservatives and liberals have disagreed on the federal government’s role in the process. A Republican recap from an April committee hearing concluded: “AI will likely revolutionize the way students learn, but the federal government doesn’t need to be involved.”
The executive order comes after Education Secretary Linda McMahon faced embarrassment when she confused AI with A.1. steak sauce during a conference in San Diego on April 8. Initially using the acronym correctly, McMahon stumbled as she continued her remarks.
A coalition of states has sued the Trump administration over mass layoffs at the Education Department, alleging they were illegal. A court hearing to consider a preliminary injunction on the firings is scheduled for April 25.
