Politicians and public officials

Darin LaHood

U.S. representative for Illinois's 16th district; member of the House Intelligence Committee

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Portrait source: United States House of Representatives Office of Photography, Public domain

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The national security threat that DeepSeek—a CCP-affiliated company—poses to the United States is alarming. DeepSeek’s generative AI program acquires the data of U.S. users and stores the information for unidentified use by the CCP. Under no circumstances can we allow a CCP company to obtain sensitive government or personal data.

Exact quote, beginning

Darin LaHood

U.S. representative for Illinois's 16th district; member of the House Intelligence Committee

In a February 2025 statement announcing the No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act, which he introduced with Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Darin LaHood said DeepSeek's national security threat to the United States is alarming, that its generative AI program acquires U.S. users' data and stores it for unidentified use by the CCP, and that the bill would ban the app from federal workers' phones.

U.S. Representative from Illinois's 16th District; member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Select Committee on ChinaFebruary 6, 2025Official press release announcing the No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act

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Surrounding words

“The technology race with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is not one the United States can afford to lose,” said Rep. LaHood. “The national security threat that DeepSeek—a CCP-affiliated company—poses to the United States is alarming. DeepSeek’s generative AI program acquires the data of U.S. users and stores the information for unidentified use by the CCP. Under no circumstances can we allow a CCP company to obtain sensitive government or personal data. This commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation will ban the app from federal workers’ phones while closing backdoor operations the company seeks to exploit for access. It is critical that Congress safeguard Americans’ data and continue to ensure American leadership in AI. I look forward to working with Rep. Gottheimer and my colleagues in Congress to pass this critical piece of legislation.”

What this quote does not say

The concern is foreign access and surveillance, not frontier-model loss of control or extinction risk.

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“As AI becomes an integrated part of society, Congress must ensure that the United States fortifies our technology defenses and remains the undeniable leader. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Advanced AI Security Readiness Act to draw a clear line that we will not allow our foreign adversaries to steal, exploit, or weaponize American innovation. Congress must secure our capabili

Darin LaHood

U.S. representative for Illinois's 16th district; member of the House Intelligence Committee

Darin LaHood said he and colleagues introduced the Advanced AI Security Readiness Act to help protect U.S. AI technology from foreign adversaries.

U.S. Representative for Illinois's 16th district; member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Select Committee on ChinaDate not establishedLaHood House office press release

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Surrounding words

“The Chinese Communist Party is aggressively targeting the United States’ advanced AI technology to undermine our national security,” said Rep. LaHood. “As AI becomes an integrated part of society, Congress must ensure that the United States fortifies our technology defenses and remains the undeniable leader. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Advanced AI Security Readiness Act to draw a clear line that we will not allow our foreign adversaries to steal, exploit, or weaponize American innovation. Congress must secure our capabili ties and ensure the United States stays ahead in this critical domain.” “It’s simple: the U.S. must win the AI race.

What this quote does not say

The original bill-text attribution was insufficient, but LaHood's official House release directly attributes this endorsement to him and states that he introduced the Act with colleagues.
The release says the Act directs the National Security Agency to develop an AI security playbook; it does not describe the Act itself as directly prohibiting technology theft, exploitation, or weaponization.

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I did. I voted for it. I do think 10 years may be a little too long. Having 50 states all passing individual laws — that creates lots of confusion and a patchwork of different regulations. I'm real concerned about slowing down the innovation that we need in AI. If it was five years, I'd probably be happier with that, but I think some type of moratorium is a good thing.

Darin LaHood

U.S. representative for Illinois's 16th district; member of the House Intelligence Committee

In a June 2025 Axios interview, Darin LaHood said he knowingly voted for the AI moratorium in the reconciliation bill and thinks some type of moratorium is a good thing, but that ten years may be a little too long and he would probably be happier with five.

U.S. Representative from Illinois; member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Select Committee on ChinaPublished June 17, 2025 · date of remarks not establishedAxios in-office interview with Rep. Darin LaHood

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Did you know there was an AI moratorium in the reconciliation bill when you voted for it and are you supportive of it? I did. I voted for it. I do think 10 years may be a little too long. Having 50 states all passing individual laws — that creates lots of confusion and a patchwork of different regulations. I'm real concerned about slowing down the innovation that we need in AI. If it was five years, I'd probably be happier with that, but I think some type of moratorium is a good thing. Why are you leaning into AI policymaking? Between the Intel Committee and our focus on the China Select Committee, there's a recognition that China has a plan to replace the United States and they're working at it every single day.

What this quote does not say

Axios states the conversation was edited and condensed for clarity, and the interview date is not published — only the 2025-06-17 publication date, confirmed in the page markup.
This is a position on federal preemption of state AI law, not a statement about AI capability risk; it neither denies nor repeats the national-security concerns in his DeepSeek statement.

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