OMB Memorandum M-26-04: Increasing Public Trust in Artificial Intelligence Through Unbiased AI Principles

Properties

jurisdiction: US Federal
level: federal
domain: transparency
status: in-effect
scope: Binding OMB memorandum requiring federal agencies to include contractual requirements in all LLM procurements mandating that vendors comply with two Unbiased AI Principles (truth-seeking and ideological neutrality) and provide minimum transparency documentation.
obligations: Agencies must: include contractual requirements addressing compliance with the Unbiased AI Principles in any solicitation or order for an LLM issued after December 11, 2025; update procurement policies by March 11, 2026; modify existing LLM contracts to include these requirements, at latest before any option to extend; require vendors to provide: acceptable use policy, model/system/data cards, end-user resources, and a feedback mechanism for outputs that violate the Principles. Sunset: the memorandum ceases to have force two years after issuance unless OMB provides otherwise.
effectiveDate: 2025-12-11
enactedDate: 2025-12-11
appliesTo: All federal executive branch agencies procuring LLMs; LLM vendors and contractors whose models are procured by federal agencies (requirements flow through contract terms)
officialUrl: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/M-26-04-Increasing-Public-Trust-in-Artificial-Intelligence-Through-Unbiased-AI-Principles-1.pdf
notes: Implements EO 14319 'Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government' (July 23, 2025). The two Unbiased AI Principles: (1) Truth-seeking: LLMs shall be truthful, prioritize historical accuracy and scientific inquiry, and acknowledge uncertainty; (2) Ideological Neutrality: LLMs shall be neutral, nonpartisan tools that do not manipulate responses in favor of ideological dogmas. Agencies are not required to apply these requirements to LLMs acquired under a free open-source license but should perform due diligence on alignment with the Principles before use.

Properties

jurisdiction

US Federal

level

federal

domain

transparency

status

in-effect

scope

Binding OMB memorandum requiring federal agencies to include contractual requirements in all LLM procurements mandating that vendors comply with two Unbiased AI Principles (truth-seeking and ideological neutrality) and provide minimum transparency documentation.

obligations

Agencies must: include contractual requirements addressing compliance with the Unbiased AI Principles in any solicitation or order for an LLM issued after December 11, 2025; update procurement policies by March 11, 2026; modify existing LLM contracts to include these requirements, at latest before any option to extend; require vendors to provide: acceptable use policy, model/system/data cards, end-user resources, and a feedback mechanism for outputs that violate the Principles. Sunset: the memorandum ceases to have force two years after issuance unless OMB provides otherwise.

effectiveDate

2025-12-11

enactedDate

2025-12-11

appliesTo

All federal executive branch agencies procuring LLMs; LLM vendors and contractors whose models are procured by federal agencies (requirements flow through contract terms)

officialUrl

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/M-26-04-Increasing-Public-Trust-in-Artificial-Intelligence-Through-Unbiased-AI-Principles-1.pdf

notes

Implements EO 14319 'Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government' (July 23, 2025). The two Unbiased AI Principles: (1) Truth-seeking: LLMs shall be truthful, prioritize historical accuracy and scientific inquiry, and acknowledge uncertainty; (2) Ideological Neutrality: LLMs shall be neutral, nonpartisan tools that do not manipulate responses in favor of ideological dogmas. Agencies are not required to apply these requirements to LLMs acquired under a free open-source license but should perform due diligence on alignment with the Principles before use.