Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order To Confront Economic Impacts of AI - CDF Labor Law LLP

Ah, California's governor has discovered that AI might have an impact on jobs. On May 21, 2026, Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-6-26, a document that will surely terrify the machines with its sheer bureaucratic weight. The order mandates agencies to produce reports and recommendations on updating the WARN Act — the law that gives workers a measly 60 days' notice before mass layoffs. Because nothing says 'we're taking this seriously' like commissioning a report on how to update a notice requirement.

The order also requires a review of research identifying potential workforce impacts. Yes, because we haven't had enough studies telling us that AI will replace jobs — we need a state-sponsored literature review to confirm. The robots are coming for the jobs, and the state's response is to ask for a memo. Meanwhile, the very companies driving this disruption continue to hire and fire at will, with California's tax dollars happily funding their R&D through subsidies and tax breaks. But sure, let's have a committee look into it.

The future is safe in the hands of people who think the WARN Act is the bottleneck. Newsom, a governor with deep ties to Silicon Valley, now positions himself as the champion of workers — by asking for reports. It's the perfect Californian solution: look busy, commission a study, and hope the problem solves itself. The robots couldn't have scripted it better.