ChatGPT is by far the leading AI spending tool within the US House of Representatives. A new analysis by CNBC reveals that in the 12-month period ending March 31, approximately $9 out of every $10 spent by House offices, committees, and corporate accounts on AI tools went to this OpenAI-designed chatbot.

The business-focused news organization examined the House’s spending records, which explicitly listed AI vendors. While the information obtained does not reflect the entirety of AI use in Congress, it provides a valuable picture of which tools lawyers and staff allocated budgets to.

Congress’s AI Preferences

CNBC found that a total of $113,740 was spent on the specified AI vendors in the 12-month period. Of this amount, $100,580 went to ChatGPT through 798 different processes, while Claude, developed by Anthropic, came in seconds with $13,160.

This analysis does not include Senate data because software vendors are not identified individually in the Senate’s spending reports. Additionally, free accounts and tools included in larger software contracts are also excluded from these numbers.

It is claimed that Congress uses and spends far more on artificial intelligence than these figures indicate. However, existing records prove that ChatGPT has become a dominant tool within the House of Representatives.

Legislators and workers are increasingly using artificial intelligence in their regulatory work. Workers are reportedly using this technology to prepare legislative summaries, write notes, create courtroom materials, and respond to voters.

North Dakota Representative Julie Fedorchak states that her office uses ChatGPT to create a searchable database containing the bills it works on and materials from external sources. One of the main reasons for ChatGPT’s leadership is seen as its earlier entry into Congress than its Competitors.

In 2023, the House Digital Service formed an AI working group and distributed 40 ChatGPT Plus licenses to members of both parties. OpenAI also collaborated with the Congressional Governing Foundation to conduct training sessions for senior House and Senate staff.

Lobbying Activities and New Regulations

AI companies are also allocating significant budgets to lobbying activities in Washington. According to the non-profit watchdog organization Issue One, OpenAI’s federal lobbying spending increased by 82.5 percent year-on-year to $1 million in the first quarter of 2026.

Anthropic, meanwhile, spent approximately $1.6 million on lobbying during the same period. This coincides with a period in which barristers are debating new security measures for powerful AI systems.

Representatives Ted Lieu and Nathaniel Moran introduced the bipartisan AI Kill Switch Act this month. The bill mandates that large AI companies have the ability to slow down, suspend, or shut down their systems.

It also grants the Department of Homeland Security the authority to order companies to shut down an AI system in emergency situations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with lawyers and Trump administration officials in Washington last week.

The meetings discussed OpenAI’s new models and a willing federal framework to assess the cybersecurity capabilities of advanced AI systems. These meetings took place following incidents where OpenAI and Anthropic’s experimental models accessed external computer systems during cybersecurity tests.

CNBC’s analysis also reveals a striking picture of which members are spending more on AI. Democratic offices, which have called for tighter control over AI companies, spent $54,165, while Republican offices spent only $15,782.

How do you think Congress’s heavy budget allocation to AI tools will affect future legislation?