Why We Signed the Coalition Letter on Federal AI Preemption

Alliance for the Future recently joined a coalition of organizations calling on Congress to consider a targeted, temporary federal preemption approach for certain state level artificial intelligence laws. The effort was spearheaded by Americans for Prosperity and reflects a shared concern that the current trajectory of AI regulation risks becoming fragmented before a coherent national framework is established.

The pace of state legislative activity on AI has accelerated rapidly. While this reflects legitimate interest in responding to new technologies, it has also created the conditions for overlapping and sometimes conflicting rules governing systems that inherently operate across state lines. As AI becomes embedded across sectors of the economy, inconsistent regulatory approaches risk creating uncertainty not only for developers and deployers, but also for policymakers seeking to understand how responsibility and accountability should function at scale.

From an institutional perspective, this raises a familiar challenge. Congress has historically stepped in when state by state approaches threatened to undermine national markets, interstate commerce, or long term competitiveness. Temporary federal preemption has often been used as a stabilizing mechanism, allowing federal lawmakers the time and space needed to design durable national rules without allowing early fragmentation to harden into de facto standards.

Alliance for the Future views this moment through that lens. The question is not whether AI should be governed, but how governance can be structured in a way that is both effective and sustainable. A short term pause on certain state specific regimes would not eliminate oversight or suspend existing federal authorities. Instead, it would help ensure that early regulatory choices do not outpace congressional deliberation or lock in assumptions that may prove difficult to unwind as the technology evolves.

Regulatory fragmentation also has distributional effects that deserve attention. Complex and inconsistent compliance obligations tend to advantage larger incumbents with the resources to absorb legal and operational costs. Smaller firms, startups, and new entrants often face disproportionate burdens, which can reduce competition and narrow the range of innovation over time. A clearer national framework helps preserve openness and competitive dynamism across the ecosystem.

There is also a broader strategic context. Artificial intelligence is increasingly tied to national economic strength and geopolitical influence. Other countries are pursuing centralized approaches designed to move quickly and set global norms. The United States has traditionally balanced innovation with legal clarity, relying on federal leadership to ensure that markets can scale while remaining accountable.

By joining this coalition, Alliance for the Future is signaling support for a governance approach that emphasizes federal responsibility, institutional coherence, and long term competitiveness. We look forward to continued engagement with Congress and other stakeholders as policymakers work toward a national AI framework that reflects the scale and significance of the technology itself.

Read the coalition letter (PDF): AFP Federal AI Preemption Coalition Letter