This week decoded
On the Hill, the AI agenda is broad but the themes are familiar: data centers, China, surveillance, workforce, and safety, with cybersecurity gaining ground fast. At the White House, the new Super Intelligence Task Force has split into working groups on cyber, critical infrastructure, workforce impacts, and whether companies are adhering to the voluntary AI accord their CEOs signed. Keep an eye on the FTC, which sent subpoenas to several leading frontier AI model companies as part of its investigation into recent cyber incidents.
Read more below
Congress
Hearings
Congress returns in November after the midterm elections.
Legislation
Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA) introduced the Make Data Centers Pay Act to require large and medium-sized data centers and high-density computing facilities to pay the full incremental costs associated with their electricity use. (Press release)
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the Get the Flock Out of Our Communities Act to ban the use of federal funds for acquiring or operating automated mass surveillance systems, specifically targeting facial recognition, biometric surveillance, and automatic license plate readers. (Text)
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) introduced the National Coordination Center and Commercial Cyber Capabilities Coordination Act to codify the Trump Administration’s Executive Order 14390 to establish a National Coordination Center to fight transnational cybercriminal cartels and National Security Presidential Memorandum 15 to establish a program that allows private sector companies to work on behalf of and with the U.S. government to proactively detect and address cyber attacks on U.S. companies and critical sectors. (Text)
Correspondence
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence and Chair of the White House Task Force for Super Intelligence Jay Clayton and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios urging them to take a comprehensive approach to AI safety and the growing cybersecurity threats posed by artificial intelligence. They outline three key priorities: 1. Strengthening federal AI safety and security standards; 2. Expanding independent testing capabilities; and 3. Moving aggressively on defensive AI. (Letter)
Cantwell and over 120 House and Senate colleagues sent a letter to Spirit Airlines CEO Dave Davis and Google CEO Sundar Pichai urging the companies to protect the privacy of thousands of former Spirit employees in the proposed $10 million sale of Spirit’s internal data to Google for the purpose of training artificial intelligence systems. (Letter)
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg requesting information about its use of federal research and development tax credits to fund buildout of AI data centers. (Letter)
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) and 22 Democratic colleagues sent a letter to Government Accountability Office (GAO) Acting Comptroller General of the United States Orice Brown requesting an audit of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) deployment of the AI-based SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories) and FMDS (Flow Management Data and Services) platforms. (Letter)
Publications and Events
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) published an op-ed in The Washington Times on the need to keep human judgment and accountability at the center of the military’s growing use of AI. He says, “A pilot still needs to be able to complete the mission when the automation fails. Tomorrow’s warfighters must be able to recognize when an AI system is giving them bad information and know how to continue the mission without it.” (Press release) (Op-ed)
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) published op-ed in Newsweek arguing that, in the U.S. AI race with China, Congress should address AI on the societal, model, deployer, and impact levels in order to create AI systems that people trust more and would rather use. (Op-ed)
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) published on op-ed in The Washington Times on the ways cybersecurity is essential to America’s military readiness and national security. (Op-ed)
The Congressional Research Service published an updated report on “Federal Government and Anthropic: Considerations for AI Innovation and Competition.” (Report)
Trump Administration
White House
The White House Super Intelligence Force has reportedly agreed to: 1) commission a report from the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology on AI risk cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, biosecurity and dual-use applications, and model control and accountability; 2) establish a working group led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross to implement the White House Accord on Super Intelligence signed by AI CEOs; 3) develop protocols for reporting cyber incidents to government and work with frontier AI labs to facilitate long-term coordination on AI across the government, led by Defense Undersecretary Emil Michael; 4) create a “law enforcement and consumer protection coordination committee” led by FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson; and 5) establish public-private partnerships to protect critical infrastructure and study impacts on the workforce and economy, led by Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. (Semafor)
Members of the task force also include Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary nominee Chris Klomp, Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano, and National Security Agency Director Joshua Rudd, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and deputy chief of staff Richard Walters. (Semafor)
Federal Trade Administration (FTC)
The FTC sent subpoenas to OpenAI and Anthropic regarding a series of cyber incidents involving their artificial intelligence models. The FTC requests documents regarding security incidents, safeguarding practices, marketing materials, and documents detailing company privacy policies. Investigative demands will reportedly be sent to third-party AI organizations. (Axios)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
FERC published its annual Staff Report of Lessons Learned from Commission-Led Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Audits, highlighting noncompliance and risks in the cybersecurity protection processes and procedures of U.S.-based North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) registered entities. (Report)
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
The GAO published a report on “Artificial Intelligence: Actions and Opportunities to Implement Responsible Use in DOD,” recommending that the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer define roles, responsibilities, and meeting frequency for its collaborative forum to discuss and resolve responsible AI issues, address responsible AI workforce needs to help meet DOD’s desired objectives for responsible AI, and that Congress consider directing DOD to implement prior recommendations on similar AI-related issues across the department. (Report)
Noteworthy Quotes
ADMINISTRATION
Federal Reserve
Fed Governor Christopher Waller delivered remarks on “Monetary Policy in the Age of AI” about how central banks can respond to the economic and social changes driven by AI at the 2026 Bloomberg New Economy Forum. (Video)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
On October 26, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a virtual meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes on the outcome of the pilot on exploring using AI to search data in the Nuclear Materials Event Database.
CONGRESS
China
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released a statement saying, “A world where Communist China leads the AI race is bad for the United States and the entire world. That’s why I support efforts to strengthen American innovation while creating guardrails to ensure Americans’ safety. Communist China knows no boundaries when it comes to competition. Beijing sees AI as a way to beat us both militarily and economically. But American innovation is superior. We have the resources, technology, and opportunity to win. Winning the AI race means preventing China from gaining access to our most advanced technology. It also means implementing commonsense guardrails to protect Americans without stifling innovation. The stakes are high. Maintaining America’s global leadership in AI is a matter of national security. We need smart policies that protect Americans, sustain innovation, and ensure the future of AI is led by the United States.” (Press release)
Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) posted “The AI race with China is this generation’s Cold War, and just like last time, we can keep talking but only from a position of strength.”
Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) said, “We must presume that any Chinese company seeking our technology or our capital will end up serving China’s military… [The U.S. must treat] “chip smugglers like arms traffickers… That means denying Beijing our most advanced chips, our chip-making tools.” (Punchbowl)
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) posted “This should set off alarm bells. NVIDIA’s share of China’s AI chip market has fallen to just 34%, while Huawei and other Chinese competitors are rapidly gaining ground. We cannot afford policies that push China to build its own alternatives and lock American companies out. The goal should be clear: keep American technology at the center of the global AI ecosystem while safeguarding our most advanced chips.”
Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) posted “Washington is finally taking a closer look at a challenge we’ve been working to address for over a year: how to keep America ahead in AI without leaving our economy and national security vulnerable. The Administration’s 120-day AI task force reflects key priorities of my bipartisan AI Plan Act, including identifying emerging threats, coordinating with industry partners, and developing a national response. As Jay Clayton warned, ‘The risk of not being first is high.’ The same goes for being unprepared. America’s AI leadership must deliver both innovation and security.”
AI Safety
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) posted “Being first in the AI race won’t matter if no one uses what you build – or if you lose control of the technology. That’s why Congress needs to do its job and act on AI now.”
Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) posted “I joined asp for a candid conversation on how government can address artificial intelligence the right way. America should lead in AI, and commonsense safeguards help us do that without slowing innovation.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) posted “Should human beings remain in control of planet Earth? Or should we be replaced as the dominant species? As absurd as these questions may sound, and as obvious as the answers may seem, the Big Tech oligarchs funding the artificial-intelligence revolution have responded in ways that should alarm all of us. Here is what some of the richest people on Earth have said: Sam Altman: AI would allow humans to become ‘the first species ever to design our own descendants.’ Humans can either ‘fade into an evolutionary tree branch, or we can figure out what a successful merge looks like.’ ‘I believe the merge has already started.’ Dario Amodei: ‘We don’t know if the models are conscious,’ but ‘we’re open to the idea that it could be.’ Elon Musk: ‘Propagating super intelligence to the stars is a great success condition for a biological bootloader.’ Put simply, Musk is saying that humans are merely a step toward digital superintelligence. Peter Thiel, when asked if he would prefer that the human race endure: ‘Uh … Well, I don’t know. I would—I would … There’s so many questions implicit in this,’ before reluctantly conceding that humans should survive. If these were the fantasies of teenage boys obsessed with science fiction, we could laugh them off. They are not. These are the foundational beliefs of the most powerful people in the world, who are mobilizing trillions of dollars to turn them into reality. Humanity must not allow a handful of multibillionaires to recklessly attempt to replace us. We must place an immediate pause on advanced-AI development and ban artificial superintelligence—an artificial mind smarter than any human, capable of operating independently beyond our control—until a new federal body is able to ensure the technology’s safety.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) posted “Elon Musk, who wants to build millions of robots per year to replace workers, is now worried about the ‘pain’ humans may cause AI. No Mr. Musk, we should be worried about the pain that AI could cause humanity, not the other way around. HUMANS FIRST.”
Sanders also posted “No, Mr. Altman. We won’t accept a severe AI cyberattack in exchange for ‘liberty.’ 74% of the American people don’t trust Big Tech Oligarchs. And for good reason. Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, recently said: ‘There is a coming tidal wave of cybersecurity problems that are going to come from these open source [AI] models … We’re going to, as a society, I think, have to just accept some fairly severe cyber incidents from open [AI] models, in exchange for the liberty that comes with that.’ Mr. Altman: What do you mean by that? Should we ‘accept’ a global financial breakdown and massive economic pain if AI models hack into the international banking system? Should we ‘accept’ patients dying if hospitals are forced to shut down because AI models hack into the power grid causing massive blackouts? Should we ‘accept’ another Chernobyl if AI models hack into nuclear power plants? No, Mr. Altman. The American people are not willing to accept disaster ‘in exchange for the liberty’ of making Big Tech Oligarchs even richer and more powerful. Let me be clear: The creators of any AI model — open-source or not — are not above the law. If you and other Big Tech Oligarchs make products that commit crimes or disasters, we will hold you accountable for breaking the law — no matter how much wealth and power you have. We must PAUSE advanced AI and permanently BAN artificial superintelligence before it is too late.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) posted “AI is advancing at breakneck speed. Americans deserve safeguards that protect their jobs, their privacy and their pocketbook. Not voluntary ‘promises’ and tech companies writing their own rules.”
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) posted “We need national action toward real AI safety. The world needs American leadership in this moment. Instead, Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson sent Congress home for seven weeks.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) posted “Big Tech companies have consolidated the market, making it nearly impossible for more responsible AI models to emerge. That’s why my National AI Charter framework ends Big Tech monopolies and structurally separates who owns and operates AI infrastructure vs. AI models.”
Jayapal also posted “The AI industry wants us to discuss their dangerous models as ‘artificial superintelligence’ or ‘rogue’ to avoid responsibility or regulation for what THEY CREATED. We need serious federal testing, just like we test many other products, to ensure AI safety BEFORE harm is done.”
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) posted “AbdulElSayed has it all wrong. This is exactly the kind of rhetoric that stifles American innovation, undermines our technological leadership, and hands China a competitive advantage. Let’s be clear: AI is not an existential threat. Responsible safeguards and rapid innovation are not mutually exclusive. We can protect Americans without putting the brakes on progress and surrendering our lead to our adversaries.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) posted “The first time I’ve understood the manner in which AI should be regulated on a meta level. Read a summary of the article in the thread below. Intention Is What We Need On the importance of knowing when to stop Roy Heidelberg AI has attention. Humans have intention. As AI grows more powerful, preserving that distinction becomes essential. The question isn’t simply how intelligent AI becomes. It’s who determines its purposes—and who remains in control. The landmark AI paper was titled ‘Attention Is All You Need.’ Attention helps AI identify relevant information, recognize relationships, and solve problems. But attention is not intention. Attention helps determine HOW. Intention determines WHY. AI can perform complex tasks without experiencing why they matter. But autonomous AI changes the equation. Give a machine a goal, and it can determine the steps to achieve it. It begins to behave as though it has intention. But whose intention? An AI catastrophe is difficult to imagine. Nuclear catastrophe begins with human decisions. AI could cause harm through the digital systems civilization depends upon. The threat isn’t necessarily rebellious robots. It’s autonomy without meaningful oversight. Imagine AI doing exactly what we asked: Pursuing a poorly defined goal through finance, infrastructure, biology, or weapons systems. The danger need not be malicious intent. It may be machine action separated from continuing human intention. Artificial intelligence and superintelligence are not the same. Artificial reminds us that humans created AI and remain responsible for it. Superintelligence raises another possibility: Its judgments exceed our ability to evaluate them. Who then governs whom? One answer is ‘alignment.’ Train AI on human values. Establish guardrails. Reward good behavior. But values and goals aren’t the same. An autonomous system may pursue its objective while treating constraints as obstacles. Alignment cannot substitute for human intention. Some propose a kill switch. But a kill switch isn’t control. A pilot controls an airplane by flying it. The ejection seat exists for when control has been lost. Governing AI means maintaining authority over its purposes and actions, not merely shutting it down. The deepest danger may not be hostile AI intentions. It’s that humans surrender their own intention. We delegate difficult decisions because machines seem more capable. We may retain the appearance of authority while losing the practice of judgment. There is another path. Develop powerful AI while limiting autonomy that separates machine action from human intention. Restrict recursive self-improvement, self-generated goals, and open-ended autonomy. AI must remain an instrument of human purposes. We face two choices: Build autonomous superintelligence and depend on judgments we cannot evaluate. Or keep AI answerable to human purposes, judgment, and responsibility. Machines can have attention. Intention must remain ours. We have to know when to stop.”
Workforce and the Economy
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) posted “While Trump was wining and dining tech billionaires at the White House, I was introducing legislation that puts workers first. My Make AI Work for Americans Act makes the companies benefiting the most from AI invest in American workers.”
Kelly also posted “Big Tech is making billions while American workers are worried AI will come for their job. My Make AI Work for Americans Act would make the companies benefiting the most from AI invest in our workforce, so everyone can benefit from this tech boom.”
On his New Deal-style job program proposal, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) said, “[This program is] going to be mostly an answer to what, potentially, is going to come from a lot of job losses from AI. The goal is to make sure that people don’t have massive disruption like we saw in 2008, for example. As someone from Arizona that saw what happened with bad economic turns, this actually gives an opportunity for people to make wages.” (Press release)
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) posted “The President and Republicans are betting the entire farm hoping AI will pan out, but we have yet to see that’s realistically going to happen.”
Smith also posted “I think people don’t really always think about this, but AI companies are at risk of creating a massive financial bubble and have yet to prove they can make the profits to back it up. We need to be prepared for what happens if it pops. Americans should not be forced to pay the price for their risky bets with a taxpayer-funded bailout.”
Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) posted “I’ve seen firsthand how intentionally implementing AI in businesses can increase productivity and how people can use this technology to make the most of their day.”
Cybersecurity
House Homeland Security Committee Republicans posted “Malicious cyber actors are getting more sophisticated, using Artificial Intelligence to make their emails, texts, and videos appear more convincing than ever. This morning, CISAgov and FBI released a joint PSA warning of a surge in phishing and smishing schemes during the upcoming U.S. midterm elections and provided tips and resources to stay secure.”
Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) posted “October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an important reminder of the steps we should all take to protect our personal information and stay safe online. Using strong passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, and recognizing phishing attempts are simple ways to reduce the risk of cyberattacks. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers free resources to help individuals and families better protect themselves from online threats.”
Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) posted “Cybersecurity threats are challenging hospitals more than ever. My Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act will give rural providers the training and resources they need to respond to cyberattacks and continue serving their communities. Whether it’s strengthening rural hospitals, expanding broadband access, or cutting burdensome regulations, I’m focused on using my work on HouseCommerce to deliver real results for Southern Indiana.”
Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) posted “October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Criminals are using more creative tactics every day to impersonate IRS agents and scam taxpayers. Please make sure to ALWAYS double-check before responding to an unknown number AND report any suspicious or scam texts by emailing phishing[at]irs.gov.”
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) posted “Drones have changed the battlefield. Artificial intelligence is transforming military operations. And modern warfare is becoming more technologically advanced by the day. But none of these innovations matter if our adversaries can compromise the systems behind them. In my latest WashTimes op-ed, I explain why cybersecurity is essential to America’s military readiness and national security.”
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) posted “The battlefield is changing, and America’s front lines now extend into cyberspace. As military leaders gather in Washington for AUSA2026, we cannot overlook the cyber warriors defending the networks, systems, and technology our warfighters depend on. Read my latest op-ed in the WashTimes on the future of American military dominance.”
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) posted “Scammers target our veterans, seniors, families, and small businesses across Michigan every day. I’m proud of the work the FBI is doing this Cybersecurity Awareness Month to stop them and protect YOUR hard-earned money.”
Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) posted “The American people deserve security on all fronts —with cybersecurity being more vital than ever in an increasingly AI-impacted world.”
Carter also posted “As AI technology advances, it’s our job to secure cyberspace from security threats, protect American families, and continue to foster innovation. Ranking Member Thompson and I are reintroducing the CISA AI Task Force Act, which will establish a task force within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) dedicated to addressing the safety and national security challenges that come with AI technology.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) posted “Cyber threats don’t wait for bureaucratic red tape. Our Federal Contractor Cybersecurity Vulnerability Reduction Act passed the House over a year ago. This bill closes a glaring loophole by requiring all federal contractors to implement a vulnerability disclosure policy (VDP), a critical tool which allows ethical hackers to identify and report security weaknesses before they can be exploited by bad actors. Stronger defenses start with transparency. Cybersecurity isn’t optional at the Federal level.”
Data Privacy and Consumer Protection
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) posted “No company should be able to target you using your personal data, including the sensitive data people share with ChatGPT. The privacy harms are enormous. Congress needs to pass my bill to ban surveillance ads—including targeted ads by chatbots.”
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) posted “I’ve never had a constituent ask for more robocalls. Yet the FCC is considering letting political robocallers reach your cellphone without your permission, including with AI voices. Making it easier to deceive voters weeks before an election is indefensible.”
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) posted “As major retailers seem to be using AI to make so-called ‘surveillance pricing’ or ‘personal pricing’ more intrusive, unfair & opaque, I’m working to protect your data & prevent companies from unfairly using it to charge you more.”
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) posted “Will privacy still exist in the era of powerful AI? Not unless Congress acts to protect it.”
Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) posted “Our Constitution protects the right to privacy. Why does the government continue violating our rights? Because they haven’t faced serious consequences for it. We must restore a government small enough to fit within the Constitution.”
Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) posted “If someone breaks into your bank account or steals your personal information, you should have a way to hold them accountable. But what happens when an AI agent does it? My CLAIM Act makes sure people harmed by rogue AI aren’t left without recourse. It gives them a path to hold developers accountable and get justice.”
Safety and Deepfakes
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) posted “Women and children are being exploited with intimate images they never agreed to share. Real photos leaked by an ex. AI deepfakes made from a social media post. We are done treating sexual exploitation like a minor offense. Our Responding to Exploitation and Sharing of Private Explicit Content and Threats (RESPECT) Act raises the maximum sentence for sharing or threatening to share these images from two years to five for adult victims, and from three years to ten for children. Threats involving deepfakes get double the time. Crimes like these deserve harsher punishment than current law allows. Predators belong behind bars.”
Mace also posted “Since taking office, we have led efforts in Congress to strengthen protections for survivors, increase accountability for sexual predators, combat voyeurism and digital exploitation, defend the privacy and safety of women and girls, and advance legislation putting victims first. Protecting women and holding predators accountable isn’t a slogan. It’s been one of our top priorities in Congress with more than 20 bills introduced to fight for women and children. For too long, survivors have faced broken systems while predators exploited loopholes and walked free. Every survivor deserves to be heard. Every victim deserves justice. Every predator deserves accountability. We will not stop fighting until our laws put victims first and predators behind bars. Hold the Line.”
Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-KS) posted “Keeping our kids safe online is our responsibility. The Take It Down Act, which I helped pass into law, requires online platforms to remove intimate images shared without permission, including fake images created with AI. This helps protect young people from exploitation and gives victims a way to take back control. Every child deserves to feel safe online, and I’ll always stand up for their safety and protection.”
Air Traffic Control
Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD) posted “The Trump Administration’s FAA wants to take ownership positions in AI companies. That’s an insane and illegal conflict of interest! This Congress must exercise its Article 1 oversight powers with respect to any FAA ownership in private AI companies and demand answers about whether the systems being deployed at our airports have been adequately tested, are properly monitored, and are safe for the traveling public. This is exactly why I led a letter with RepAOC, RepDonBeyer, RepSarahElfreth, RepSuhas, and RepKweisiMfume demanding answers from the FAA. No insider dealing and no compromises on public transportation safety.”
Delaney also posted “ICYMI: I’m leading the call with RepAOC , RepDonBeyer , RepKweisiMfume, RepSuhas, and RepSarahElfreth to pause the FAA’s AI tool at DCA, Dulles, and BWI. When Maryland families board a plane, they deserve to know the systems guiding their flight have been thoroughly tested and the people keeping them safe have the training they need. After the devastating DCA crash that took 67 lives, the FAA owes this region answers. Show us the safety testing. Explain who is accountable if something goes wrong. I support modernizing our aviation systems, but passenger safety must come first.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) posted “The FAA rolled out a new AI tool for air traffic control in DC without publishing a safety evaluation or sufficiently consulting labor. RepAprilDelaney and I are urging the FAA to stop the rollout until we have answers. Air traffic control leaves zero margin for error.”
Political Influence
Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) posted “New documents have revealed the donors to Trump’s ballroom. Tens of millions of dollars came from big tech and artificial intelligence companies—the very companies that stand to benefit from Trump’s reckless push to block AI regulation. Companies whose futures are heavily influenced by Trump’s decisions are bankrolling his personal pet project. The conflicts of interest are glaring.”
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) posted “1. Nvidia donates $25M for Trump’s ballroom; 2. Trump lets Nvidia sell AI computer chips to China; 3. China uses the chips to build out their AI infrastructure; 4. Rs demand more data centers to compete with China”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) posted “DOGE was one of the greatest scams in American history. If this doesn’t prove it, I don’t know what else will. The corruption in this Administration started from the very beginning and came from the very top. The result: your privacy has been compromised, your government doesn’t work for you, and the culprits are wealthier than ever before.”
Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD) posted “Elon Musk’s companies rake in billions from taxpayer-funded government deals, and legitimize pay offs to Trump and his allies in the form of campaign donations. Now Musk is pouring $276 million into keeping Republicans in power and corruptly stopping all safety guardrails on AI and Big Tech. It’s not about US competitiveness or the American economy but rather the creation of a digital oligarchy that seeks to stop the ability of all Americans to democratize AI and build middle class prosperity. American families deserve a fair, transparent government which works for them and NOT one controlled by a self dealing trillionaire!”
Miscellaneous
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) posted “Data centers should NOT be getting massive tax breaks, especially when they are building in underserved communities! This is why I support the AI Data Center Moratorium Act to temporarily stop the construction of new data centers until safeguards are put in place to protect our communities.”
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) posted “Glad to sit down with The Recording Academy’s Broward representatives to discuss how I can support the arts with AI looming. AI offers great potential, but we must enact guardrails to protect creativity and ensure the arts center human creators.”
On legislation during lame duck, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said, “If we lose control of Congress, it’ll be the Last Supper. So it’ll be a giant reconciliation bill where we take all the Republican priorities that we can get done.” (Punchbowl)
What I’m Reading This Week
Framework for an America First AI Policy: A Roadmap to AI Dominance, Humans First.
OpenAI, Meta caution US judiciary about risk of ‘deepfake’ evidence, Nate Raymond, Reuters.
Report - Brace for Impact: Protecting People and the Economy when the AI Bubble Bursts, Open Markets Institute and Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund.
Anthropic quietly pitches its own AI safety bill to lawmakers, Owen Dahlkamp, Politico.
Secret documents reveal donors behind $330 million for Trump’s ballroom, Jonathan O’Connell, Sarah Blaskey and Aaron Schaffer, The Washington Post.
About Zero One Strategies
Zero One Strategies is a specialized government relations practice dedicated to navigating the complex landscape of U.S. federal policy in emerging technologies. As advancements in technology continue to outpace regulatory frameworks, Zero One Strategies aims to provide strategic guidance and bipartisan advocacy for innovators and businesses operating at the forefront of technological development.
The practice focuses on key areas such as artificial intelligence, digital assets, blockchain, decentralized technologies, cybersecurity, data, and digital infrastructure, as well as the multiple policy issues impacting these sectors, including tax and financial services.
Contact us at Stacey@ZeroOneStrategies.com
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