After AI push, Trump admin is now looking to humanoid robots

Five months after President Trump's AI acceleration plan, his administration is now targeting humanoid robotics. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with robotics CEOs, pledging full commitment to industry growth through a planned 2026 executive order. The Commerce Department backs robotics to aid reshoring production, and the Transportation Department will announce a robotics working group by year's end.

Interest on Capitol Hill is rising; although a Republican amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for a national robotics commission failed, other legislation is moving forward. This positions robotics as the next arena in U.S.-China competition, with the administration adopting industrial policy.