OMB Memorandum M-25-21: Accelerating Federal Use of AI through Innovation, Governance, and Public Trust

In forceGuidelineBinding

Binding guidance for all federal agencies (including independent regulators) that replaces M-24-10: agencies must appoint Chief AI Officers, publish AI strategies and use-case inventories, and apply minimum risk-management practices (pre-deployment testing, impact assessments, human oversight) to 'high-impact AI'. Agencies had 365 days (to 3 Apr 2026) to document those practices and must stop using non-compliant high-impact AI.

Why it matters

Vendors selling AI into federal agencies should expect testing, documentation and monitoring requests for any use that is 'high-impact' (rights, benefits, safety, critical infrastructure).

What it requires

Government use of AIRisk classificationImpact assessmentHuman oversight

SourceThe White House (OMB): https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/M-25-21-Accelerating-Federal-Use-of-AI-through-Innovation-Governance-and-Public-Trust.pdf Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026.

Cite this record

OMB Memorandum M-25-21: Accelerating Federal Use of AI through Innovation, Governance, and Public Trust. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Status: In force. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-omb-m-25-21-federal-ai-use-2025/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

Line of Thought

Developments connected to this rule

What has happened that this rule shapes, or that shapes it. Pick one to keep following the thread.

DevelopmentHHS publishes department-wide AI strategy built on a 'OneHHS' platform4 Dec 2025 · Policy · US
DevelopmentFDA gives all employees agentic AI tools after 70% take-up of Elsa1 Dec 2025 · Launch · US
DevelopmentFDA rolls out 'Elsa', a generative AI assistant for all agency staff2 Jun 2025 · Launch · US
DevelopmentOMB replaces Biden-era rules with new memos on federal AI use and AI buying3 Apr 2025 · Policy · US
DevelopmentMedicare starts WISeR, an AI-assisted prior-authorisation pilot in six states1 Jan 2026 · Programme · US
DevelopmentDepartment of War launches GenAI.mil with Google's Gemini for Government9 Dec 2025 · Launch · US

OMB Memorandum M-25-21: Accelerating Federal Use of AI through Innovation, Governance, and Public Trust

Why it matters

What it requires

Cite this record

Developments connected to this rule

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