The United States is increasingly using procurement as a means to evaluate and control the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within its national security systems, effectively functioning as a gatekeeper. This shift is driven by new requirements from agencies like the General Services Administration, which has proposed a contract clause mandating disclosure and oversight related to AI systems, and the Justice Department’s focus on practical access to sensitive data as a measure of national security risk. This evolving process reflects a move away from simple technology acquisition to an intricate assessment of the risks posed by foreign access and dependencies on potentially insecure supply chains, reshaping not only which AI technologies are trusted but also the overall landscape of national security.

Arthur D. Sidney: Arthur D. Sidney is an attorney and public policy strategist specializing in AI governance, technology policy, and regulatory risk assessment. He recently analyzed how federal AI procurement is evolving into a national security screening tool and how government adoption of AI outpaces formal authority structures. As a former congressional chief of staff, he provides insights on embedding control mechanisms in procurement to mitigate operational vulnerabilities.
United States Government: The United States Government oversees federal procurement for technologies like AI, increasingly using it to assess national security risks related to data access, system control, and foreign dependencies. Agencies such as the Justice Department and General Services Administration are implementing programs and contract clauses that prioritize traceability, human oversight, and American AI systems. This mechanism is quietly determining which AI providers gain access to national security systems, functioning as de facto policy.

GSA AI Clause: The General Services Administration proposed an AI contract clause requiring disclosure, traceability, human oversight, and use of American AI systems.
DoD Litigation: Recent litigation involves a leading AI firm challenging the Department of Defense’s classification of it as a supply chain risk.
Data Security Program: The Justice Department’s Data Security Program focuses national security risks on practical access to sensitive data rather than ownership.