- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Mayors Call for National AI Policy to Empower Local Innovation
Alexandria and Newport News mayors say a federal framework is needed to maintain consistent standards and manage AI risks.
Published on Feb. 15, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Mayors Alyia Gaskins of Alexandria and Phillip Jones of Newport News are calling for a national AI strategy to provide the structure and scaffolding cities need to innovate responsibly with AI. They argue that without national standards, local governments could deploy AI systems that differ widely in quality, fairness and transparency, leading to fragmented policies that confuse businesses, damage public trust and leave residents with inconsistent protections.
Why it matters
As cities increasingly use AI to enhance interactions with residents, from predictive traffic management to automated permitting, there is an urgent need for a national framework that encourages innovation while establishing clear guardrails to manage AI risks and protect data privacy. A national approach would also promote innovation by providing federal support for development, training and infrastructure, and allow successful local pilots to be scaled into national programs.
The details
Mayors Gaskins and Jones say cities are in a unique position to test AI innovations, but being so close to residents also makes them vulnerable to certain risks. Without national standards, local governments could deploy AI systems that differ widely in quality, fairness and transparency, leading to fragmented policies. Cities also lack the technical expertise and resources to evaluate complex AI systems and enforce national standards for accountability and security. A national AI strategy would provide the structure and scaffolding cities need to innovate responsibly, establish clear national guardrails, and promote innovation through federal support.
- In the coming years, AI will drive economic growth and shape global power dynamics.
- Mayors across Virginia and throughout the country are coming together to plan how AI can be strategically applied across city services.
The players
Alyia Gaskins
The mayor of Alexandria.
Phillip Jones
The mayor of Newport News.
What they’re saying
“A national AI strategy would provide the structure and scaffolding cities need to innovate responsibly. It would establish clear national guardrails, standards for transparency, bias mitigation, privacy protection and accountability.”
— Alyia Gaskins, Mayor of Alexandria (dailypress.com)
“If the United States is driven purely by fragmented local efforts, then we risk falling behind. A unified approach allows America to lead on both technical and ethical governance, ensuring that our democratic values shape the future of AI.”
— Phillip Jones, Mayor of Newport News (dailypress.com)
What’s next
Mayors across the country are coming together to plan how AI can be strategically applied across city services, and are exploring new pathways for service delivery.
The takeaway
A national AI framework would empower local innovation while maintaining consistent standards, allowing cities to fully harness AI's potential to build brighter, fairer and more resilient communities nationwide.
