This analysis synthesises potential AI policy directions from three primary sources: Project 2025 policy blueprint documentation and related reporting, interviews with Samuel Hammond (Foundation for American Innovation) and Joshua Steinman (Former Trump NSC Senior Director for Cyber Policy).
The resulting structure maps potential policy directions across eight key domains, assessed for their likely impact on AI development, deployment, and regulation. Each policy area is evaluated based on stated intentions, historical precedent from 2017-2021, and alignment with Project 2025’s broader objectives.
This represents a speculative analysis: while drawn from authoritative sources, actual policy implementation would depend on numerous political, technical, and economic factors. Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, though the document reflects influential conservative policy thinking.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION & TRADE: Strategic positioning in global AI race.
- Export Controls: Advanced technology restrictions (AI impact critical. Control of AI capabilities globally.)
- Industrial Protection: Domestic manufacturing emphasis (AI impact high. Reshaping of supply chains.)
- Research Collaboration: Restricted international partnerships (AI impact high. Fragmented development.)
- Trade Policy: 60% China tariffs, reduced technology sharing (AI impact high. Supply chain restructuring.)
GOVERNANCE & REGULATION: Fundamental restructuring of oversight mechanisms.
- Administrative Reform: Politically aligned civil service (AI impact high. Changed governance approach.)
- Agency Structure: Department consolidation/elimination (AI impact high. Centralised control.)
- Regulatory Process: Streamlined approvals (AI impact high. Reduced oversight.)
- Standards Framework: Reduced safety protocols (AI impact critical. Changed risk assessment.)
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT: Emphasis on commercial and defence applications.
- Manhattan Project: Large-scale government-industry collaboration (AI impact critical. Accelerated development.)
- Funding Priority: Applied over basic research (AI impact high. Changed research focus.)
- Computing Access: Enhanced infrastructure access (AI impact high. Development capacity.)
- Data Sharing: Enhanced government data access (AI impact high. Training capabilities.)
WORKFORCE & EDUCATION: Preparation for AI-driven economic changes.
- Skills Development: Targeted technical training (AI impact medium. Workforce preparation.)
- Education Reform: STEM emphasis, department restructuring (AI impact medium. Changed talent pipeline.)
- Displacement Response: Limited safety net approach (AI impact medium. Social stability effects.)
- Technical Immigration: High-skill preference (AI impact high. Talent access.)
ETHICS & SAFETY: Reduced emphasis on existing frameworks.
- Safety Standards: Streamlined protocols (AI impact critical. Changed risk approach.)
- Algorithmic Oversight: Reduced transparency requirements (AI impact high. Development freedom.)
- Bias Mitigation: Changed standards (AI impact high. Training approaches.)
- Testing Requirements: Reduced safety testing (AI impact critical. Deployment speed.)
INFRASTRUCTURE & RESOURCES: Expansion of physical infrastructure.
- Energy Generation: Nuclear and traditional expansion (AI impact high. Compute capacity.)
- Data Centres: Accelerated development (AI impact high. Processing capability.)
- Network Infrastructure: Enhanced deployment (AI impact medium. Distribution capacity.)
- Environmental Controls: Reduced restrictions (AI impact medium. Facility development.)
MILITARY & SURVEILLANCE: Enhanced state capability development.
- Defence Applications: Accelerated military AI (AI impact critical. Capability development.)
- Surveillance Systems: Enhanced monitoring capability (AI impact high. Data collection.)
- Autonomous Systems: Accelerated development (AI impact critical. Military capability.)
- Law Enforcement: Enhanced AI tools (AI impact high. Domestic deployment.)
MARKET STRUCTURE: Emphasis on industry consolidation.
- Antitrust Approach: Reduced merger restrictions (AI impact high. Industry concentration.)
- Market Access: Domestic preference (AI impact high. Competition structure.)
- Capital Markets: Reduced oversight (AI impact medium. Development funding.)
- IP Framework: Enhanced protection (AI impact medium. Innovation incentives.)