Cybersecurity Policy Report, Administration Should Brief Senate on ‘Unchecked AI,’ Sen. Schumer Says, (Sep 15, 2026)
The Trump administration should schedule a classified briefing for the Senate “to address the dangers of unchecked AI development,” according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).
Speaking on the Senate floor yesterday, Sen. Schumer cited calls in recent days from AI (artificial intelligence) developers about the need to slow AI development to, among other things, prevent rogue AI agents from engaging in cyber attacks (CPR, Sept. 14).
He mocked President Trump for responding to those calls by claiming that an AI slowdown wasn’t needed under a “High IQ” president.
“Well, even if we had a high-IQ president right now—and we surely don’t—it wouldn’t be enough. Congress cannot afford to turn a blind eye to AI,” Sen. Schumer said, according to a transcript of his remarks.
“I’ve long argued that we need to ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in innovation and security,” he said. “But I’ve also always said that if our economy and society is to reap the potential benefits of AI, we need sustainable innovation as well.”
“That means putting guardrails in to mitigate the risks of this technology and earn the public’s trust, which is critical to American leadership,” he added. “The American people want to see action. Industry leaders want to see action. Many of us on both sides of the aisle want to see action.”
Sen. Schumer called for White House officials to brief the Senate on the administration’s pre-deployment testing program for the most powerful AI models. He noted that the White House hadn’t said much about the program, which was announced over the summer (CPR, June 2).
“Second, we need to hear how the administration plans to defend our country against increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled cyberattacks on critical infrastructure,” he said. “How are we going to protect our power grid, our hospitals, our water treatment systems, schools, telecommunications, banking, and election systems from this new threat?”
“I urge the administration to provide a classified briefing on AI to the entire Senate immediately,” Sen. Schumer said. “Regardless, Senate Democrats will take further action on AI in the coming days and weeks. The United States government cannot sit this one out.”
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