Politicians and public officials

Ted Budd

U.S. senator from North Carolina

3 records

Portrait source: United States Senate, Public domain

Records

“As AI grows in power and influence, we may face the real prospect of AI-generated threats like biological or chemical weapons. We cannot be caught flat-footed on these threats and should begin to prepare now. I’m glad to work with Senator Markey to face potential AI threats head on.”

Ted Budd

U.S. senator from North Carolina

In a 2025 statement, Ted Budd said AI could enable biological or chemical weapons and called for preparations to begin now.

U.S. Senator for North CarolinaFebruary 11, 2025Official Senate office press release announcing the Strategy for Public Health Preparedness and Response to Artificial Intelligence Threats Act

Source Archived

Context and checks

Surrounding words

… a strategy for public health preparedness and response to address the risks of misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly with regard to the development of biological or chemical weapons. Senator Budd said in a statement: “As AI grows in power and influence, we may face the real prospect of AI-generated threats like biological or chemical weapons. We cannot be caught flat-footed on these threats and should begin to prepare now. I’m glad to work with Senator Markey to face potential AI threats head on.” Senator Markey said in a statement: “The federal government has fallen behind before in addressing the grave risks posed by emerging technologies. We can’t make the same mistake with the technologies of our future.

What this quote does not say

The office page presents a written statement, not an independently transcribed recording.
A near-identical warning appeared on Budd's official site in 2023; the 2025 version is a reiteration, not evidence of a newly adopted view.

How this was checked

Quote matched character-for-character against the captured page.

Reviewed by

an AI reviewer that read the whole source · an automatic character-by-character check

I agree with the Administration’s efforts to secure critical infrastructure and information systems. The NSA’s world-class cybersecurity expertise and resources are critical in addressing the potential significant national security vulnerabilities and implications of leading models.

Exact quote, beginning

Ted Budd

U.S. senator from North Carolina

In a 2026 letter, Ted Budd asked the administration to let the federal AI standards center continue evaluating frontier AI models and, where possible, publish its research.

U.S. SenatorPublished June 30, 2026 · date of remarks not establishedLetter to the National Cyber Director and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

Source Archived

Context and checks

Surrounding words

Particularly, CAISI has published research on significant security vulnerabilities found within DeepSeek open-source models so AI researchers, developers, and businesses seeking to incorporate AI can avoid unsafe Chinese platforms. I agree with the Administration’s efforts to secure critical infrastructure and information systems. The NSA’s world-class cybersecurity expertise and resources are critical in addressing the potential significant national security vulnerabilities and implications of leading models. We can’t ignore the risk of exfiltration of technology by our adversaries or how targeted, malicious prompt injections or data poisoning attempts by state actors could disrupt American technology infrastructure. CAISI’s mission of facilitating collaborative research fosters and expands the capacity of nongovernmental AI research organizations and AI companies to monitor and understand frontier AI developments. By allowing NSA and CAISI to work together, the Administration can help position AI innovators in the private sector more effectively, especially as AI capabilities improve rapidly. To continue to build on the groundbreaking innovation of America’s AI industry, I request that you continue to allow CAISI to perform its important mission in conjunction with the AI missions of other components of the government and, to the extent possible, allow its research to be published. More high-quality research conducted by CAISI’s informed experts deepens America’s AI competitive ecosystem for model and benchmark developers. Leveraging the strength of both America’s public and private sector capacity to evaluate, monitor, and understand frontier AI development will only become more critical as industries in every sector of our economy continue to embrace AI technology. ncerely, /X/ ###

What this quote does not say

The passage combines AI-model concerns with attacks by state actors; it does not attribute every disruption pathway to autonomous model behavior.
The policy endorsement is for evaluation, coordination, and publication, not broad AI regulation.

How this was checked

Quote located in the captured page; spacing normalised for display.

Reviewed by

an AI reviewer that read the whole source · an automatic character-by-character check

As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness, prioritizing AI advancement without subjecting this technology to overregulation is critical to maintaining America’s competitive edge.

Ted Budd

U.S. senator from North Carolina

In a Senate committee release announcing a September 2025 hearing, Ted Budd said advancing AI without overregulation was critical to maintaining U.S. competitiveness.

U.S. Senator from North Carolina and Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and CompetitivenessPublished September 3, 2025 · date of remarks not establishedSenate Commerce Committee press release announcing the AI've Got a Plan: America's AI Action Plan hearing

Source Archived

Context and checks

Surrounding words

Upon announcing this hearing, Sen. Budd said: “To win the AI race against China, we must unleash the full potential of American innovation. As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness, prioritizing AI advancement without subjecting this technology to overregulation is critical to maintaining America’s competitive edge. I look forward to hearing from Director Kratsios as we examine how the White House’s AI Action Plan will allow Congress to collaborate with the administration on AI policy to accelerate innovation to create new jobs, improve our nation’s

What this quote does not say

Budd does not define what level or type of regulation he considers overregulation.
This is a concern about regulation and U.S. competitiveness, not a claim that AI itself poses a safety risk.

How this was checked

Quote matched character-for-character against the captured page.

Reviewed by

an AI reviewer that read the whole source · an automatic character-by-character check