Lawmakers unprepared to tackle AI safety

Washington caught flat-footed on AI safety

Washington is scrambling to manage the around AI development, but party politics, a limited legislative window and lack of consensus make it an uphill, next-to-impossible task.

In the wake of a researcher’s about the technology, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are floating numerous proposals to prevent the negative potential of AI, while President Trump is doubling down on his light-touch approach to AI regulation.

With less than two months on the legislative calendar, the chance of moving last-minute AI safety bills through both chambers and getting the president’s signature are next to zero.

“Do you think we’re [Congress] capable of regulating AI? I mean, we can’t pass a budget, you think we’re going to have some great bill on AI?” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told The Hill on Tuesday.

“We’re not going to pass a smart AI bill in three weeks or this year,” he added, referring to the short window the Senate has in session before a monthlong recess for the midterms.

Dozens of bills regulating the safety elements of AI were introduced over the past 18 months, most of which remain stagnant due to clashing priorities on AI and the that power them.

These policy fights were thrown back into the spotlight this week after 27-year-old AI researcher Jacob Coxon went viral by proclaiming the AI labs believe the technology “could kill humans” but still race towards superintelligence anyway.

Among the last-minute proposals is a bill from Republican Sen. John Kennedy (La.) that would require AI companies to implement a so-called “kill switch” into their models.

This would be a safety measure that companies can use to pause or shut down certain models.

Other lawmakers like Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) are suggesting new committees to “rein in” AI, but industry experts argue this will only further delay what already feels like a tall ask.

Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter , we’re Julia Shapero and Miranda Nazzaro — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley.

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Bessent grilled on AI, bond market in tense House hearing: 3 takeaways

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent faced lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday, amid concerns over rapidly developing artificial intelligence (AI) and surging bond yields. During the nearly three-hour-long hearing, Bessent brushed off concerns about AI and defended his department’s intervention in the bond market. But that did not stop Democrats on the panel from taking him …

Dem rep asks Bessent to ‘talk sense’ into Trump on regulating AI

Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch (Mass.) on Tuesday urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to convince President Trump to reverse course on regulating artificial intelligence (AI). During Bessent’s appearance before the House Financial Services Committee, Lynch said Trump does not have “a grasp” of “what we’re dealing with” regarding AI. “I’ll be honest, I don’t think the president could spell AI if I gave him the first letter,” …

California Democrat: ‘We need to have a safety stand-down with AI’

Rep. George Whitesides (D-Calif.) on Monday said that the U.S. needs “a safety stand-down” regarding AI amid growing calls for regulation coming from both the tech industry and members of Congress. “I’m setting out a vision for how we need to develop AI,” Whitesides told NewsNation’s Blake Burman on “The Hill.” “I think we need, from my experience in the aerospace industry, …

Ossoff: ‘Compromised’ Trump won’t regulate AI

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) on Monday said President Trump likely will not heed calls from technology leaders to implement guardrails on the development of AI because of his family’s investments in the industry. The Georgia Democrat pointed to venture capitalist firm 1789 Capital — where Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., is a partner — and its investments in AI. “They’ve invested heavily in AI labs. They’ve invested …

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Clarity Act falls short in early hurdle on Senate floor

A cryptocurrency regulation bill failed to advance on the Senate floor Tuesday, after all Democrats and a few Republicans blocked a procedural vote.

The Senate voted 49-50 on a motion to proceed with consideration of the Clarity Act, failing to reach the required 60-vote threshold.

It marks a major setback for the industry, which has long pushed for the measure setting up a regulatory framework for the crypto market.

Four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Josh Hawley (Mo.), Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) — split with the rest of their party to oppose the measure.

The vote Tuesday came amid a flurry of last-minute efforts to strike a deal between Republicans and crypto-friendly Democrats.

About a dozen Democrats were considered potential yes votes.

But they ultimately declined to support the legislation after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on ethics rules amid lingering concerns about President Trump and his family’s involvement in the crypto industry.

Check out a full report at TheHill.com .

Crypto Corner is a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington.

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Waters has heated exchange with Bessent on AI

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) went after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday for the Trump administration’s policy on artificial intelligence, as warnings about the technology percolate. During Bessent’s appearance before the House Financial Services Committee, Waters said President Trump is “blindly” pushing for the development of AI models and data centers “with absolutely no safeguards.” The California Democrat, …

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