Republican Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson will roll out legislation on Thursday to codify a section of President Donald Trump’s AI Action Plan, the Daily Caller News Foundation has learned.
Jackson’s Growing University AI Research for Defense (GUARD) Act would permit Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to form an AI Institute at a senior military college to help integrate artificial intelligence (AI) within the U.S. military. The intent of Jackson’s legislation is to ensure the United States stays a leader in using AI for defense and national security purposes over the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to background on the bill first obtained by the DCNF.
“China and our adversaries are pouring massive resources into AI, and America cannot afford to fall behind,” Jackson told the DCNF. “The GUARD Act delivers on President Trump’s mission to ensure America remains the global leader in defense innovation, giving our warfighters the AI-driven edge to dominate our enemies and protect America’s future.”
The White House unveiled “America’s AI Action Plan” in July to stay ahead of China in technological innovation by expanding AI infrastructure and investments throughout the United States. One of the policy goals within the president’s AI strategy is to cement AI research and development within U.S. senior military colleges.
“Grow our Senior Military Colleges into hubs of AI research, development, and talent building, teaching core AI skills and literacy to future generations,” the White House document reads in part. “Foster AI-specific curriculum, including in AI use, development, and infrastructure management, in the Senior Military Colleges throughout majors.”
Texas A&M University is one of six designated senior military colleges in the United States. The school could be given the resources to establish an AI Institute if the GUARD Act is signed into law, according to Jackson’s office.
Trump has characterized the federal government’s embrace of AI adoption as a top national security priority to prevent China from gaining an edge on the world stage. He has also compared the AI contest with U.S. adversaries as the biggest technological challenge the country has faced since the space race with the Soviet Union half a century ago.
“Whether we like it or not, we’re suddenly engaged in a fast-paced competition to build and define this groundbreaking technology that will determine so much about the future of civilization itself,” Trump said in July after rolling out his strategy to accelerate AI development. “America is the country that started the AI race. And as president of the United States, I’m here today to declare that America is going to win it.”
Jackson is an active player on defense and national security issues in Congress with seats on the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intel Committees.
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