ChatGPT dominates early AI spending in Congress as lawmakers weigh regulation

OpenAI's ChatGPT dominates AI spending in Congress, accounting for about 88% of identifiable AI tool purchases by House offices between April 2025 and March 2026, with at least $113,740 in total spending identified. Congressional staff are using ChatGPT and other AI tools to summarize legislation, draft memos, and respond to constituents, saving significant staff time, though this is happening as lawmakers debate how to regulate AI. The data shows a political dynamic where Democratic offices are spending more on visible AI purchases than Republican offices, even as some Democrats have raised concerns about AI's risks to workers, privacy, and elections.