The National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020, enacted as Division E of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283), establishes the statutory framework for coordinating federal AI research, development, and policy in the United States. Originating from bill H.R. 6216 (116th Congress), the Act creates the National AI Initiative Office within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to oversee inter-agency collaboration and public–private partnerships. It mandates the formation of an Interagency AI Research and Development Task Force, designates national research institutes, and directs investment toward trustworthy AI, technical standards, and workforce training. The Act embodies principles of transparency, accountability, and international cooperation, providing the legislative backbone for subsequent U.S. federal AI strategies and agency-level programmes under the OSTP and NIST frameworks.