By accelerating the deployment of artificial intelligence across sectors with fewer regulatory constraints, this directive may reshape how health care, social services, and public health systems adopt AI-driven tools. Without intentional equity safeguards, there is a risk that marginalized populations—who often lack representation in health data, research, and access to digital technologies—may face greater disparities in care, bias in algorithms, or exclusion from the benefits of innovation. On the other hand, if deployed equitably, AI holds promise for expanding access and improving outcomes.
Executive Office of the President - White House Office
A directive issued by the President that manages operations of the federal government. Executive orders have the force of law but must align with existing statutes and constitutional authority.
Who It Impacts: Federal agencies and employees, directing them on how to implement laws or carry out government functions. Executive orders can also influence businesses and individuals when they relate to issues like immigration, trade, or labor policies.
Who Is Not Impacted: Private citizens and businesses do not have to directly follow an executive order unless it leads to regulations or policies that apply to them. For example, an executive order directing federal agencies to increase renewable energy use does not mandate action from private companies, but it may influence policy shifts that eventually affect them.
Date Enacted
January 23, 2025
Last Updated
December 2, 2025
Policy Type
Research and Data
Education
Healthcare Delivery, Services & Quality
Public Health
Children and Families
Immigrant Health
LGBTQI+ Health
Summary
This executive order establishes U.S. policy to “sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance,” directs the development of a federal AI Action Plan within 180 days, and mandates the review, suspension, or rescission of prior government actions deemed to hinder innovation.
Impact Analysis
Legal Challenges
N/A
Take Institutional Action
Health systems, public health agencies, research institutions, and community-based organizations should proactively participate in this evolving AI policy landscape to safeguard health equity. Institutions can start by tracking federal rule-making and public comment opportunities related to the AI Action Plan, ensuring that the voices of historically underserved populations are included and that equity criteria (e.g., demographic representation in data sets, algorithmic fairness) are prioritized.
Research universities and funders can embed equity metrics into AI-health-care studies, diversify participation in dataset development, and evaluate how AI tools impact different racial, ethnic, rural, low-income, immigrant, and disability populations.
Healthcare delivery systems should assess their AI procurement and deployment frameworks to ensure transparency, avoid perpetuating bias, and plan for digital access gaps (such as broadband, device access, and language barriers) that could otherwise widen the divide.
Communicate internally and externally that the acceleration of AI is not just a technical issue but a health equity imperative: clarity about how innovations serve underserved communities, training for staff on bias and structural inequality in algorithms, and partnerships with community organizations to ensure inclusive design are key.
Associated or Derivative Policies
Connections to broader federal tech and AI strategy directives (such as procurement guidance, workforce development initiatives, export controls) and the AI Action Plan.
Builds on or replaces the prior administration’s Executive Order 14110 Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (October 2023) which emphasized safeguards and equity in AI deployment.
Policy Prior to 2025
The previous AI regulatory framework under EO 14110 emphasized civil rights, transparency, fairness, worker protections, and inclusive outcomes in AI systems, particularly relevant to health and social services data. EO 14179 instructs agencies to review and potentially rescind those actions.
Additional Resources
Fact Sheet: President Donald J Trump Takes Action to Enhance America’s AI Leadership https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-takes-action-to-enhance-americas-ai-leadership/
Economic Policy Institute https://www.epi.org/about/
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