New Federal Strategy Uses AI to Write Laws: “We Don’t Need Perfect, Just Good Enough”
The United States federal government is embarking on a controversial new initiative to dramatically accelerate the legislative process by utilizing artificial intelligence. Current reports indicate that the Trump administration has launched a plan to employ Google’s Gemini generative AI tools to draft federal regulations. This significant shift is spearheaded by the Department of Transportation where officials are prioritizing speed and volume over the traditional, meticulous methods of rulemaking. The initiative marks a major departure from established bureaucratic norms and aims to overhaul how government agencies operate.
At the center of this transformation is Gregory Zerzan who serves as a chief counsel within the Department of Transportation. He reportedly told staff members that the goal is to produce regulations that satisfy the immediate needs without getting bogged down in the pursuit of flawlessness. Zerzan emphasized a philosophy where the government does not require a perfect rule but rather one that is simply viable enough to be implemented. This approach is being described as a move to flood the zone with new directives and cut through red tape that typically slows down federal agencies.
The proposed timeline for this new AI-driven workflow effectively slashes the standard legislative period from months or years down to a matter of weeks. Under the new guidelines a regulatory idea could move to a fully drafted text ready for review in as little as 30 days. Proponents of the plan claim that the Gemini artificial intelligence system can churn out a draft for a new rule in approximately 20 minutes. This efficiency is viewed by the administration as a necessary modernization step that aligns with a broader agenda of deregulation and administrative reduction.
Critics and observers are expressing concern that this methodology applies a Silicon Valley mentality of moving fast and breaking things to critical government safety standards. The Department of Transportation creates rules that govern aviation safety and pipeline integrity as well as railway operations. Changing the drafting process for these high-stakes sectors raises questions about the potential for errors or oversights when speed is the primary metric of success. The shift suggests a future where quantity and rapidity of governance take precedence over the slow deliberation that has historically defined federal rule creation.
This development is part of a wider effort to integrate advanced technology into the executive branch and reduce the reliance on human labor for administrative tasks. The administration has expressed excitement about the Department of Transportation serving as a pilot program for this broader federal application of artificial intelligence. As these tools become more embedded in the daily operations of the government the role of human oversight is being redefined. The long-term impact on the quality and safety of federal regulations remains a subject of intense debate among legal experts and policy analysts.
We are interested to hear what you think about AI taking over the drafting of federal laws so please share your thoughts in the comments.
