US Justice Department establishes task force to coordinate AI-related enforcement

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of its Super Intelligence Task Force (DOJ-SITF) on 5 November 2026. The new body is intended to coordinate the department’s criminal and civil enforcement activities involving AI, including responses to the misuse of advanced systems by foreign actors, criminal organisations and individuals or companies engaged in unlawful activities.

Led by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and Associate Deputy Attorney General Stephen Weiss, the task force was established through an Attorney General memorandum dated 13 October 2026. Its responsibilities include coordinating investigations across DOJ components and US Attorneys’ Offices, identifying enforcement priorities and reducing overlap between ongoing cases.

The task force will also serve as the department’s main point of contact with the White House’s Super Intelligence Force, chaired by Jay Clayton, and coordinate with other federal agencies where appropriate. The DOJ’s previously established AI Task Force, announced in January 2026, will be integrated into the new structure.

Beyond coordinating investigations, the memorandum assigns the DOJ-SITF responsibilities relating to prosecution guidance, compliance measures, legislative and regulatory advice, and civil litigation. The initiative is intended to consolidate the department’s activities and establish a more coordinated approach to AI-related enforcement.

The DOJ says the task force will address threats involving foreign states and state-sponsored actors, transnational criminal organisations, and the use of AI in fraud and other unlawful activities. Its mandate also places law enforcement within the broader US effort to protect technological leadership while addressing security risks associated with advanced AI.