Warner Statement on the Appointment of Jay Clayton to Coordinate Federal AI Policy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after President Trump named Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to serve in an additional role overseeing the administration’s artificial intelligence policy: “Artificial intelligence is one of the defining national security challenges of our time, and I welcome the administration recognizing that this technology requires serious, sustained attention at the highest levels of government. But creating a new title is not a substitute for having a coherent strategy. So far, the administration has resisted meaningful safeguards without offering a serious alternative for addressing the national security risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems. We still do not know what authority this new role will have, whether it will include developing safety standards or reviewing the most advanced models, or how it fits into the administration’s broader approach to AI. That lack of clarity is especially concerning as leading AI companies themselves are confronting increasingly capable systems that can evade safeguards and exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities. “There is real bipartisan interest in Congress in getting this right. I hope this appointment is an opportunity for the administration to move beyond slogans and toward a serious, coordinated national strategy for AI.  As I have said repeatedly, that coordination must include the Intelligence Community, where some of our nation’s foremost technical experts on cyber reside.  And as Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I look forward to working with Director Clayton on ensuring the United States stays ahead of China and other adversaries, strengthening the security and resilience of our most advanced AI systems, and establishing rigorous testing and safeguards so that increasingly powerful systems remain secure, reliable, and under human control. ” Sen. Warner has been a leading voice in Congress on the national security, economic, and societal implications of artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, he unveiled A Framework for America’s AI Future , a comprehensive legislative agenda focused on AI safety and competition, national security, workforce disruption, and the infrastructure needed to power the technology. Most recently, Warner introduced the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026 with Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), legislation that would establish enforceable safety and security standards for the most advanced AI systems, including pre-deployment testing, stronger cybersecurity requirements, and mandatory reporting of serious AI safety and security incidents. Warner and his colleagues took to the Senate floor this week to seek unanimous consent to pass the legislation. ###