Newsom accelerates AI oversight, advances ‘kill switch’ plan

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential contender, signed an executive order Friday calling on the federal government to take a more active role in regulating artificial intelligence.

He said in a statement that the Trump administration has abdicated “its responsibility to protect Americans,” as AI becomes more advanced and capable by the month.

Newsom’s order recommends more stringent oversight on companies developing AI, while requiring those same firms to develop a “kill switch” for their frontier models in the event they go rogue.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during an event held by the state Democratic Party at the Penn Center on Sept. 3, 2026, on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.  (Sean Rayford/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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“We’re not waiting to act – we’re going to speed up our work on substantial and responsible AI oversight before it’s too late. We’re going to do this thoughtfully but with urgent velocity; the stakes are too high to wait or delay action,” Newsom said.

In a video on his personal YouTube channel, Newsom delivered a sharp critique of President Donald Trump, who recently said that the risks surrounding AI amount to a “hoax.”

“There’s still no comprehensive federal law, none, requiring AI companies to report dangerous incidents when they happen, and President Trump has rejected calls for new regulation. No new regulation. Let it rip. He’s dead wrong,” Newsom said.

The order, Newsom said, will speed up implementation of recently enacted California laws that establish a framework for independent organizations to assess AI systems for safety and potential risk.

President Donald Trump pauses as he walks alone along an ivy-covered wall during his final departure from Aras an Uachtarain on Sept. 12, 2026, in Dublin, Ireland.  (Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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The order also moves up implementation of California’s AI auditor registry and oversight program from January 2029 to December 2027.

Newsom acknowledged in hs video message that the idea of creating a so-called “kill switch” for out-of-control AI systems is still largely in its infancy. To explore the concept further, he said he’d be convening a panel of experts.

A kill switch “means a lot of things depending on who you talk to,” Newsom said, adding, “So we want to flesh out exactly what that means and how to come up with a framework that works.”

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., attempted to introduce a federal AI kill switch bill this week, but his effort was blocked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-K.Y., appears during meeting in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 6, 2026. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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“I think it would be crazy to get on the floor one day and regulate an entire industry,” Paul told reporters. He argued that passing such a piece of legislation would require input from industry leaders.

Trump has generally opposed new AI regulations, arguing that excessive rules could hamper innovation. He has repeatedly defended data centers, saying they are good for the communities that host them. 

He has also said that any slowdown in domestic AI development will lead to China outpacing the U.S. over time.

On Monday, Trump explicitly rejected calls from AI executives for the federal government to impose new limits on the technology. Among those calling for restraining AI were Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI CEO Elon Musk.

“The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.