A new White House directive is pushing federal agencies to rapidly scale up their use of artificial intelligence.
President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14179 in January, removing what he called “barriers to American leadership in AI.” The directive was followed by a 25-page memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget, dated April 3, outlining a sweeping mandate for agencies to cut red tape and adopt AI in ways that improve public services and protect civil liberties.
Here are five key takeaways from the memorandum:
- Chief AI officers required: Each federal agency must appoint a chief AI officer within 60 days. These leaders will oversee AI adoption, ensure compliance with risk management protocols, and work to build an AI-ready workforce.
- Healthcare implications: The memo highlights “high-impact” AI use cases, subject to heightened oversight — including tools used in diagnosis, treatment decisions, health insurance eligibility, and care allocation in public programs.
- Buy American, open-source code: In line with the executive order’s “buy American” policy, agencies are directed to prioritize AI tools developed in the U.S. and avoid vendor lock-in. They must also release custom-developed code and data assets as open source, except where security or privacy concerns apply.
- Generative AI policies by 2026: Agencies must develop formal policies for generative AI use by early 2026.
- Upskilling and hiring: The memo encourages agencies to train current staff and recruit experienced AI professionals, emphasizing demand for talent with both machine learning expertise and regulatory know-how.
Although the directive targets federal agencies, its standards could serve as a model for health systems aiming to build public trust and internal rigor around AI use.
