The US government under Donald Trump is reportedly using an artificial intelligence tool to identify and scrap nearly half of all federal regulations. A new report by The Washington Post reveals that the AI system, known as the DOGE AI Deregulation Decision Tool, is part of a larger plan to cut down thousands of rules by the first anniversary of Trump’s return to office.
The tool is being operated by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and has been trained to review over 200,000 federal rules. Based on early estimates, around 100,000 of these regulations may be marked for removal. The AI tool has already been used at agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where it reportedly reviewed and suggested deletions for more than 1,000 regulatory sections within two weeks. At the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), it is said to have been responsible for writing all of the agency’s recent deregulations.
Government officials told The Post that the AI system was created by engineers brought into the administration during Elon Musk’s involvement in DOGE. While some agencies have embraced the tool, others remain cautious about depending on an AI model to review sensitive and often complex federal rules.
According to a presentation reviewed by The Post, the tool is being positioned as a solution to save both time and money. The Trump administration believes this AI-driven approach could reduce the federal budget, cut red tape, and attract more investment by easing compliance burdens for businesses.
Trump’s broader deregulation agenda is not new. In January, he signed an executive order aimed at fast-tracking deregulation efforts, asking agencies to repeal 10 rules for every new one. Since then, departments like Transportation and Labor have publicly announced large-scale cuts to existing rules and regulatory language.
However, legal experts warn that the process may not be as straightforward. Scrapping a federal rule often requires going through detailed procedures under administrative law. There are also concerns that using AI to make such decisions could lead to mistakes or overreach.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement that the administration is still exploring all options and that nothing has been finalized. But he praised the DOGE team for bringing new ideas into government operations.
While the tool’s full impact remains to be seen, it has already created tension within the federal workforce. Some staff members worry that relying on AI for complex legal decisions may lead to unintended consequences. Others point out that ongoing staff cuts within agencies are slowing down the overall deregulation push, even as pressure builds from the White House to deliver faster results.
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