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

- **Jurisdiction:** United States (federal) (US)
- **Type:** Guideline · **Status:** In force · **Binding:** yes
- **Issued by:** Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
- **Proposed:** — · **Adopted:** 3 Apr 2025 · **Effective:** 3 Apr 2025
- **Obligations:** Government use of AI, Risk classification, Impact assessment, Human oversight
- **Sectors:** Public sector

## Summary
Binding guidance for all federal agencies (including independent regulators) that replaces M-24-10: agencies must appoint Chief AI Officers, publish AI strategies and use-case inventories, and apply minimum risk-management practices (pre-deployment testing, impact assessments, human oversight) to 'high-impact AI'. Agencies had 365 days (to 3 Apr 2026) to document those practices and must stop using non-compliant high-impact AI.

## Why it matters
Vendors selling AI into federal agencies should expect testing, documentation and monitoring requests for any use that is 'high-impact' (rights, benefits, safety, critical infrastructure).

## Source
[The White House (OMB)](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/M-25-21-Accelerating-Federal-Use-of-AI-through-Innovation-Governance-and-Public-Trust.pdf)
Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026.

## Cite
OMB Memorandum M-25-21: Accelerating Federal Use of AI through Innovation, Governance, and Public Trust. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Status: In force. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-omb-m-25-21-federal-ai-use-2025/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

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Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-omb-m-25-21-federal-ai-use-2025/ · Not legal advice.