OpenAI’s ChatGPT has emerged as the dominant force in the early adoption of artificial intelligence within the United States Congress, particularly in the House of Representatives. According to a CNBC analysis of House disbursement records, ChatGPT accounted for approximately 88% of identifiable AI spending by House offices, committees, and institutional accounts in the year ending March 31, 2026. The total expenditure on identifiable AI tools during this period amounted to $113,740, with ChatGPT responsible for $100,580 of that sum across 798 transactions. Anthropic’s Claude, ChatGPT’s closest competitor, trailed significantly, with only $13,160 spent across 37 transactions.
The widespread adoption of ChatGPT highlights the tool’s integration into various legislative functions, including summarizing legislation, drafting memos, and preparing hearing materials. This usage is shaping how congressional offices manage their workloads, interact with constituents, and navigate the influx of information on Capitol Hill. Notably, Democratic offices have led the way in AI spending, accounting for more than three times the expenditure of Republican offices. ChatGPT licenses have been purchased by 71 House member offices, representing about one in six offices, with Democratic offices buying more licenses than their Republican counterparts.
Despite the growing role of AI in legislative processes, the figures captured only provide a partial view of Congress’ AI use, as they exclude free accounts, AI bundled into broader software packages, and most of the Senate’s use. Additionally, expenditure records do not account for internal reimbursements for AI subscriptions or the use of Microsoft Copilot, which could potentially surpass ChatGPT’s adoption in official spending.
As AI tools proliferate in Congressional offices, concerns about fairness and competition have surfaced. Ensuring that governmental AI adoption does not favor specific companies for political reasons is critical. Legislative bodies and nonpartisan agencies are encouraged to test multiple AI models to understand their strengths and weaknesses, especially as lawmakers craft regulations governing AI industry practices.
OpenAI’s substantial influence within Congress can be traced back to early adopters and successful partnerships. The House Digital Service introduced an AI working group in 2023, distributing ChatGPT licenses to bipartisan staffers, creating an important foothold for OpenAI. The training partnership between OpenAI and the Congressional Management Foundation further entrenched ChatGPT in legislative processes. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s spending on federal lobbying soared to $1 million in the first quarter of 2026, signaling the company’s commitment to maintaining its strategic advantage.
The broader AI landscape in Washington is witnessing increased competition as new entrants like Anthropic vie for influence. Differences in AI tools used by various legislative offices reflect an ongoing need for diverse experimentation and evaluation. Ultimately, providing lawmakers with the most effective AI tools will be key to enabling informed policymaking in this rapidly evolving sector.
For further details, you can read the original article here: [CNBC article on AI spending in Congress](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/03/openai-chatgpt-anthropic-congress-house-ai-spending.html).
