Trump Administration Plans to Use Google Gemini for Federal Transportation Regulations
The Trump administration's Department of Transportation reportedly plans to use Google Gemini to draft federal transportation regulations, with agency leaders stating they prioritize speed over quality. DOT staff have expressed concerns about using an AI system prone to hallucinations for rules governing aviation safety, hazardous materials transport, and other critical infrastructure.
What happened
The Trump administration's Department of Transportation plans to use Google Gemini to draft federal transportation regulations. Gregory Zerzan, the DOT's general counsel, told staff that the agency will be 'the first agency that is fully enabled to use AI to draft rules' and that President Trump is 'very excited by this initiative.'
In December 2025, DOT lawyer Daniel Cohen told employees that AI had the 'potential to revolutionize the way we draft rulemakings.' Zerzan stated that 'we don't need the perfect rule' and 'we want good enough,' with claims that draft rules could be produced 'in 20 minutes.'
Reported impact
DOT regulations govern safety standards for commercial aircraft, hazardous materials transport, and driver qualifications. Some DOT staffers expressed alarm about using an AI system 'notorious for making mistakes' to write rules affecting 'every facet of transportation safety.'
Index analysis
AI systems are known for 'hallucinations'—generating false or fabricated information. The plan's stated rationale is speed, as complex federal regulations typically take months or years to write, but the plan accepts lower quality in exchange.
Governance controls
The plan was presented to DOT staffers in December 2025, with ongoing discussions among agency leadership. Some DOT employees questioned why the federal government would 'outsource the writing of such critical standards to a nascent technology notorious for making mistakes.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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