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OMB memorandumIn effect

OMB Memorandum M-21-06: Guidance for Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Applications

OMB guidance, required by Executive Order 13859, on regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to AI applications developed and deployed outside the Federal Government; government use of AI is outside its scope.1

Issued · Office of Management and Budget · In effect

Key provisions

The rest of this tracker's summary, one point per line, with its source.

  • It sets out ten principles for agencies to consider, including public trust, public participation, risk assessment and management, benefits and costs, fairness and non-discrimination, and safety and security, and states that agencies must avoid regulatory or non-regulatory actions that needlessly hamper AI innovation and growth.
  • Agencies with regulatory authorities were to submit plans to achieve consistency with the memorandum by May 17, 2021.1

Status: In effect

OMB Memorandum M-25-21 of April 3, 2025 tells agencies to consult M-21-06 for guidance on regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to AI applications developed and deployed outside the Federal Government.2

Related documents

Connected by what the records say: a replacement, or a mention by name or number.

Sources

Read on the dates shown. Last reviewed Oct 8, 2026.

  1. 1.
    OMB Memorandum M-21-06, Guidance for Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Applications (November 17, 2020) (external site: whitehouse.gov)

    Office of Management and Budget · Official page · published Nov 17, 2020 · accessed Oct 8, 2026

  2. 2.
    OMB Memorandum M-25-21, Accelerating Federal Use of AI through Innovation, Governance, and Public Trust (April 3, 2025) (external site: whitehouse.gov)

    Office of Management and Budget · Official page · published Apr 3, 2025 · accessed Oct 8, 2026

This page describes what the document says, not whether it is good policy, and it is not legal advice. Status comes from official sources read on the dates shown. To check a document yourself, see finding AI policy and standards sources.

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