Tech is about to get hammered in Congress
The Verge · Lauren Feiner ·
Democratic control of both chambers of Congress will likely mean a new era of tech oversight and guardrails.
Tech CEO hearings. Tougher AI and data center guardrails. Investigations of Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts. The gates are open for Democrats once they regain control of committee gavels come January after a historic win of majorities in both the House and Senate on Tuesday.
“LAWYER UP,” the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee wrote on X in a message aimed at the Trump administration as well as “corporate corruption” shortly after networks like NBC News projected Democratic control of the House. “Subpoenas,” Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) posted. It’s clear tech executives will also be caught in Democrats’ crosshairs. “They are going to need to plant new forests for all of the subpoenas we’ll be printing,” Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) posted in response to a comment that asked, “Live televised trials of Big Tech executives when?”
Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and an Oversight member, made clear that AI companies are well within his sights. “AI company CEOs should be called to testify under oath,” he said in a statement. “The revolt against data centers was one of the top issues of the 2026 election, and in a few years we will look back on it as just the early tremor of a much bigger AI earthquake upending American politics.” Rep. Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the clearinghouse for tech policy issues ranging from digital privacy to kids online safety to AI, pledged to advance policies that “protect consumers and the environment, prioritize clean energy, and rein in Big Tech.” Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna said taxing billionaires should be among Democrats’ top goals. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has called to “PAUSE AI NOW.”
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