OAKLAND COUNTY – Karen McDonald, the Oakland County Prosecutor who has defined her career by fighting for families and kids, released the following statement regarding reports that President Trump signed an executive order that makes it easier for AI companies to raise costs on basic goods and services Michiganders rely on.
The Executive Order would punish states that have adopted consumer-friendly AI laws by withholding federal funding and directing the Department of Justice to sue states with “overly burdensome” AI regulations.
“This executive order is not just bad for consumers, it is out of line and it should and will be challenged in court to make sure corporations can’t rip off Michiganders,” said McDonald. “At a time when costs are too high for families, the last thing we need is the federal government taking the side of big tech companies and making it easier for them to rig prices. As attorney general, I’ll use every tool in the toolbox to fight back against executive orders like this and protect Michigan consumers from tech companies wanting to use AI to raise costs.”
Background: As Tech Policy Press noted on the executive order, “given congressional inaction, consumers would lose the last viable way of holding exceedingly powerful companies responsible for the harms they cause.”
About Karen McDonald: Karen was elected Oakland County Prosecutor in 2020 and is committed to protecting victims of crime, improving outcomes for juveniles and families, and increasing fairness across the criminal justice system. Karen’s early initiatives have included reviewing the files of every pending juvenile lifer case in Oakland County, and establishing a Trafficking Unit, a Hate Crimes Unit, and a Conviction Integrity Unit. Prior to her election as Oakland County Prosecutor, Karen was an Oakland County Circuit Court judge from 2012 to 2019. As a judge, Karen specialized in family matters – including divorce and custody, child abuse and neglect, and adoption.
Watch Karen’s launch video here.
View a high-resolution photo of Karen here.
###
Dec. 15, 2025
