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

Properties

jurisdiction: US Federal
level: federal
domain: general
status: in-effect
scope: Binding OMB memorandum directing all federal executive branch agencies to accelerate responsible AI adoption, designate Chief AI Officers, publish annual AI use-case inventories, and apply mandatory minimum risk management practices for 'high-impact AI' systems.
obligations: Agencies must: identify a Chief AI Officer; develop and publish enterprise AI strategies (CFO Act agencies within 180 days); update annual AI use-case inventories; implement minimum risk management practices for high-impact AI including testing, monitoring, and documentation; have a plan to discontinue high-impact AI not performing at an appropriate level; cease use if proper risk mitigation is not possible. Rescinds and replaces OMB M-24-10.
effectiveDate: 2025-04-03
enactedDate: 2025-04-03
appliesTo: All Executive Branch departments and agencies, including independent regulatory agencies (44 U.S.C. § 3502(1)); AI systems developed, used, or acquired by or on behalf of covered agencies
officialUrl: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/M-25-21-Accelerating-Federal-Use-of-AI-through-Innovation-Governance-and-Public-Trust.pdf
notes: Issued April 3, 2025 pursuant to EO 14179 (Jan 23, 2025). Does not apply to AI in National Security Systems or to agencies' regulatory actions prescribing policy for non-agency uses of AI. CFO Act agencies had until September 30, 2025 (180 days) to publish AI strategies.

Properties

jurisdiction

US Federal

level

federal

domain

general

status

in-effect

scope

Binding OMB memorandum directing all federal executive branch agencies to accelerate responsible AI adoption, designate Chief AI Officers, publish annual AI use-case inventories, and apply mandatory minimum risk management practices for 'high-impact AI' systems.

obligations

Agencies must: identify a Chief AI Officer; develop and publish enterprise AI strategies (CFO Act agencies within 180 days); update annual AI use-case inventories; implement minimum risk management practices for high-impact AI including testing, monitoring, and documentation; have a plan to discontinue high-impact AI not performing at an appropriate level; cease use if proper risk mitigation is not possible. Rescinds and replaces OMB M-24-10.

effectiveDate

2025-04-03

enactedDate

2025-04-03

appliesTo

All Executive Branch departments and agencies, including independent regulatory agencies (44 U.S.C. § 3502(1)); AI systems developed, used, or acquired by or on behalf of covered agencies

officialUrl

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/M-25-21-Accelerating-Federal-Use-of-AI-through-Innovation-Governance-and-Public-Trust.pdf

notes

Issued April 3, 2025 pursuant to EO 14179 (Jan 23, 2025). Does not apply to AI in National Security Systems or to agencies' regulatory actions prescribing policy for non-agency uses of AI. CFO Act agencies had until September 30, 2025 (180 days) to publish AI strategies.