Trump Admin Limits GPT-5.6 Launch: Staggered Release

The Trump administration has quietly changed how OpenAI will launch its next model, GPT-5.6. Instead of a broad public release, the launch will be staggered due to security concerns. OpenAI's latest model, ChatGPT-5.6, was rumored to roll out yesterday, June 25, 2026. However, a new report states the Trump administration asked OpenAI to limit early access to a small group of partners. The federal government will approve customers one by one. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees that GPT-5.6 would initially launch as a limited preview. Government officials would approve access on a customer-by-customer basis before a wider rollout a few weeks later. This request came after discussions with the Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. This move puts Washington in a new role, influencing who gets access to AI models before they reach the public. It suggests the government is moving toward a consistent process for evaluating capable AI systems. This could mean advanced AI is treated like critical infrastructure, impacting who decides when powerful AI models become available.