The White House released National Security Technology Memorandum 4 (NSTM-4) on April 23, 2026, establishing the most comprehensive US government framework for AI as a national security asset to date. The memorandum directs federal agencies to treat AI leadership as a core national security objective on par with nuclear deterrence and space dominance — and it names China as the primary adversary in what it frames as a technology competition that will define the 21st century.

The memorandum's release was accompanied by a White House statement accusing China and other foreign adversaries of carrying out 'industrial-scale campaigns' to extract advanced American artificial intelligence from US labs — including the infiltration of research networks, the recruitment of AI researchers with access to proprietary model weights, and the use of front companies to acquire AI-related hardware.

What NSTM-4 Requires

NSTM-4 directs the Department of Defense to accelerate AI deployment in military applications, and the Department of Commerce to strengthen export controls on AI-related hardware, with particular attention to preventing the diversion of advanced chips to China through third-country intermediaries. It also establishes a new interagency AI Security Council, chaired by the National Security Advisor, to coordinate AI policy across the executive branch.

For the private sector, NSTM-4 includes both carrots and sticks. AI companies that participate in voluntary information-sharing programs with the government will receive expedited access to federal procurement contracts. Companies found to have inadequate security practices protecting their AI assets may face regulatory consequences.

The release of DeepSeek V4 on the same day as NSTM-4 provided a vivid illustration of the challenge the memorandum is trying to address. Despite US export controls on advanced semiconductors, DeepSeek has developed a model competitive with US frontier models — reportedly by optimizing for Huawei's domestically produced chips. NSTM-4 includes provisions specifically aimed at closing the loopholes that have allowed Chinese AI labs to continue advancing despite export restrictions.