Rep. Patronis introduces bill to combat “woke” AI in federal government

In Brief:

  • 🧠 Rep. Jimmy Patronis introduced a bill targeting “woke” bias in federally used AI systems, aligning with Trump’s executive order on ideological neutrality.

  • 📜 The bill would codify new standards requiring AI tools used by the government to avoid topics like DEI, critical race theory, and gender ideology.

  • 🚫 Agencies would be required to revise or terminate contracts with AI vendors who do not comply.

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NICEVILLE — Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-FL-1) on Tuesday introduced legislation to codify President Donald J. Trump’s executive order barring federal agencies from using artificial intelligence systems that reflect what the administration calls “woke” ideologies, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

 

“The President and his team have delivered a smart executive order that instructs federal agencies to only leverage AI tools that speak the truth,” Patronis said in a news release. “Surprising to no one, there are examples-after-examples of AI tools going off the rails because the foundational programming tilts politically Left.

“If the federal government is going to use and promote these tools, then AI designers either need to align their programs to remove Leftwing biases from their algorithm, or they need to get out of the business of federal contracting,” Patronis added.

 

The bill, House Resolution 4873, would codify Executive Order 14319, signed by Trump on July 23, which establishes two “Unbiased AI Principles”: Truth-seeking and Ideological Neutrality.

 

The legislation is co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Mike Collins, Erin Houchin, and Claudia Tenney are the sponsors, and it is Patronis’s third bill introduced during his first term.

Trump’s order states that AI systems must prioritize factual accuracy and must not be programmed to favor concepts like “critical race theory, transgenderism, unconscious bias, intersectionality, and systemic racism.”

 

“(Large Language Model) shall be neutral, nonpartisan tools that do not manipulate responses in favor of ideological dogmas such as DEI,” the order states.

 

The order continues to cite examples where models allegedly changed the race or sex of historical figures, refused to generate images celebrating white people, or avoided using gendered pronouns in hypothetical doomsday scenarios.

 

The order directs all federal agencies to incorporate these requirements into future AI contracts, revise existing agreements when feasible, and terminate agreements if the vendor fails to comply after a cure period. Agencies must follow forthcoming implementation guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within 120 days of the order.

 

“President Trump has been dedicated to rooting out the ‘woke mind virus’ from schools and women’s sports,” Patronis said in a news release. “He is once again leading the charge to root out woke ideology from the federal government. This bill will codify the President’s executive order to ensure taxpayer-funded artificial intelligence is not being weaponized to promote progressive ideology like DEI, critical race theory, or transgenderism.”