Lance Gooden
07/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/24/2026 08:07
Gooden Calls for DOJ Probe Into Foreign Influence of U.S. AI Policy
WASHINGTON - Congressman Lance Gooden (TX-05) sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate foreign interference in United States artificial intelligence (AI) policy.
In the letter, Gooden cites public reporting detailing efforts by foreign actors to influence U.S. AI policy through state-backed propaganda, foreign-linked nonprofits, and obscure funding streams designed to shape public debate surrounding AI development and weaken U.S. AI leadership.
"Artificial intelligence will shape the future of our economy, national security, and global competitiveness," said Rep. Gooden. "The United States cannot allow foreign adversaries to manipulate our AI policy and compromise our leadership on this technology."
An excerpt from the letter:
"AI is rapidly becoming a central component of our economic competitiveness and national security. To ensure American policymaking remains free from covert foreign influence, participants in policy debates should not have vested interests or undisclosed financial relationships with our nation's adversaries. As many Americans remain concerned regarding AI development and expansion, recent public reporting raises questions about the extent to which foreign-linked entities may be shaping these debates in ways that align with the strategic interests of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
"These recent developments indicate possible vulnerabilities in current foreign disclosure laws and raise important questions about the adequacy of existing safeguards. To ensure the confidence of the American people in critical emerging technologies, these debates must be driven by legitimate domestic concerns that prioritize American interests without being influenced by undisclosed foreign interests."
The letter was featured in an exclusive article from Fox Digital and is co-signed by Reps. Randy Weber (TX-14), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Addison McDowell (NC-06), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), and Pat Fallon (TX-04).
This letter builds on previous efforts by Gooden to combat foreign influence in U.S. policymaking. In 2025, he sent a similar letter to the DOJ urging an investigation into PRC manipulation of U.S. energy and environmental policy, and he introduced the Think Tank and Nonprofit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act, which requires think tanks and nonprofits to publicly disclose significant contributions from foreign governments and political parties.
Read the full letter here.
In the letter, Gooden cites public reporting detailing efforts by foreign actors to influence U.S. AI policy through state-backed propaganda, foreign-linked nonprofits, and obscure funding streams designed to shape public debate surrounding AI development and weaken U.S. AI leadership.
"Artificial intelligence will shape the future of our economy, national security, and global competitiveness," said Rep. Gooden. "The United States cannot allow foreign adversaries to manipulate our AI policy and compromise our leadership on this technology."
An excerpt from the letter:
"AI is rapidly becoming a central component of our economic competitiveness and national security. To ensure American policymaking remains free from covert foreign influence, participants in policy debates should not have vested interests or undisclosed financial relationships with our nation's adversaries. As many Americans remain concerned regarding AI development and expansion, recent public reporting raises questions about the extent to which foreign-linked entities may be shaping these debates in ways that align with the strategic interests of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
"These recent developments indicate possible vulnerabilities in current foreign disclosure laws and raise important questions about the adequacy of existing safeguards. To ensure the confidence of the American people in critical emerging technologies, these debates must be driven by legitimate domestic concerns that prioritize American interests without being influenced by undisclosed foreign interests."
The letter was featured in an exclusive article from Fox Digital and is co-signed by Reps. Randy Weber (TX-14), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Addison McDowell (NC-06), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), and Pat Fallon (TX-04).
This letter builds on previous efforts by Gooden to combat foreign influence in U.S. policymaking. In 2025, he sent a similar letter to the DOJ urging an investigation into PRC manipulation of U.S. energy and environmental policy, and he introduced the Think Tank and Nonprofit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act, which requires think tanks and nonprofits to publicly disclose significant contributions from foreign governments and political parties.
Read the full letter here.
Lance Gooden published this content on July 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 24, 2026 at 14:07 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]