The Trump administration is grappling with a high-stakes internal conflict over resurrecting an executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) regulation. Officials are navigating through chaos, trying to determine whether they can revive the order that President Donald Trump abruptly canceled last month.

Conversations surrounding the issue have been described as chaotic by Silicon Valley players and administration officials alike. Uncertainty looms over what a revised executive order might entail or if it will be signed at all. On May 21, Trump canceled the planned signing ceremony just hours before its scheduled time, citing concerns about stifling domestic competition.

The most contentious part of the nixed order was a voluntary framework for AI labs to provide early access to their models to the White House for cybersecurity evaluation. This push reflects a growing recognition within the administration that AI is becoming a national security concern due to its advanced capabilities in finding vulnerabilities in software systems, such as Anthropic’s Mythos and OpenAI’s GPT-5.5.

However, whether an updated order can be reinstated hinges on top White House officials’ ability to navigate competing factions. Susie Wiles, the chief of staff, has taken charge, along with treasury secretary Scott Bessent and national cyber director Sean Cairncross. Despite this push, David Sacks, a former AI czar, remains in opposition, arguing that unnecessary regulation is detrimental to American innovation.