White House Weighs a FINRA-Style Independent Regulator for AI Models

According to a Bloomberg report published July 20, 2026, the Trump administration is considering creating an independent regulator to vet the safety of advanced AI models, developed with industry input. The proposal, reportedly shaped by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, would establish a self-regulatory agency reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission, modeled on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and is said to be under review by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Officials indicated that President Trump had not yet reviewed the plan.

The reported shift follows complaints from AI companies about ad-hoc government moves to slow model releases, including export controls that led some developers to temporarily disable models. A FINRA-style body would give industry a larger role in setting safety standards, which raises familiar questions about regulatory capture when the regulated firms help design the oversight regime.

The framework remains under deliberation and could change; key details — what evaluations it would require, how it would be funded, and the SEC's role — are unresolved, and no formal action has been announced.