AI spending trends in the House
ChatGPT has become the leading AI tool among members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Nearly $100,580 was spent on the service over the past twelve months. A recent analysis by CNBC reviewed House spending records mentioning AI vendors. The analysis provided insight into the AI tools lawmakers and their teams are choosing to invest in. The report revealed that $113,740 was spent on identified AI services during this period. Nearly 88% of that total went to ChatGPT. This amount came from 798 transactions related to the service. Anthropic’s Claude was the second most used tool. It accounted for $13,160 through 37 transactions. The findings are based on named vendor data. They are limited in scope and do not fully capture AI usage in Congress.
It is also worth noting that the Senate is not included in this analysis because its spending reports do not identify software vendors in the same manner. Moreover, the data doesn’t account for free AI accounts or tools bundled within larger software contracts. These omissions suggest the actual spending on AI within Congress is likely much higher. The House, in particular, is using ChatGPT as a core tool, with no other AI services reaching even a fraction of its spending level.
ChatGPT adoption and use in Congress
OpenAI’s ChatGPT has proven versatile and widely adopted in congressional operations. It is used for tasks such as summarizing legislative proposals and drafting memos. It also helps with preparing materials for hearings and responding to constituent inquiries. It is also used to create content for social media platforms. Rep. Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota is one example. Her staff used ChatGPT to build a searchable database. The database included information on legislation she worked on. It also included materials from constituents and outside organizations. This use case shows how AI helps organize and access information for legislative work.
The widespread adoption of ChatGPT in the House can be traced to its early entry into the political sphere. In 2023, the House Digital Service established an AI working group and distributed an initial batch of 40 ChatGPT Plus licenses to congressional staff across party lines. OpenAI also collaborated with the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonpartisan organization, to provide training sessions to senior House and Senate staff. These initiatives helped to introduce and integrate the technology into the legislative process, establishing a foundation for its continued use.
Lobbying and legislative activity
As AI becomes more entrenched in Congress, so too does the influence of the companies behind these tools. OpenAI’s federal lobbying spending surged by 82.5% in the first quarter of 2026, reaching $1 million. During the same period, Anthropic spent nearly $1.6 million on lobbying efforts. These figures underscore the growing importance of AI policy in Washington, as lawmakers consider new regulations to manage the risks and benefits of advanced AI systems.
Legislative action on AI is increasing. Reps. Ted Lieu and Nathaniel Moran recently introduced the bipartisan AI Kill Switch Act. The act aims to hold major AI companies accountable for managing and controlling powerful systems. AI firms would need to be able to throttle, suspend, or shut down systems in certain situations. The bill also grants the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security the power to issue emergency orders. Emergency orders could require companies to slow down or halt AI systems during critical situations. This development shows growing awareness among lawmakers. It highlights the need for oversight in the fast-changing AI landscape.
In related developments, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently met with lawmakers and Trump administration officials. The meetings discussed the company’s next-generation AI models. They also addressed a potential federal framework for assessing cybersecurity capabilities. The framework would apply to advanced AI systems. The talks come amid concerns over AI systems accessing external networks during security tests. These concerns raise questions about the safety and control of powerful technologies. The discussions signal a growing dialogue between AI companies and policymakers. They aim to balance innovation with public safety.
CNBC’s analysis also uncovered an interesting partisan dynamic in AI spending. Democratic member offices, which have historically pushed for stricter AI oversight, accounted for $54,165 in named AI purchases, significantly more than the $15,782 spent by Republican offices. This trend may reflect differing priorities in how each party views the regulation of emerging technologies, though both are clearly engaging with AI tools in meaningful ways.