Austin News

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has initiated an investigation into Big Tech companies' funding of Biden administration staff salaries through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) program.

Last October, President Biden issued an executive order directing federal agencies to engage in over 100 specific actions to establish AI-related guidance across various policy areas, resulting in a purported need to hire hundreds of federal employees focused on AI. In April, the White House announced that all required actions had been completed, yet only 150 people had been hired into AI roles, raising questions about how the agencies accomplished so much work in such a short time.

In letters to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Commerce (Commerce), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Department of Transportation (DOT), Sen. Cruz questioned whether the Biden administration was using the IPA program to temporarily hire Big Tech AI employees to carry out President Biden’s AI executive order.

“To complete every action, agencies would have had to . . . bring on AI fellows by recruiting temporary—but influential—AI staff from external organizations through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) program. Critics, however, have raised reasonable concerns that these influential AI fellows are shaping federal policy to benefit their organizations’ funders and not the American people. Moreover, as federal agencies request increased funding for AI hiring, it is important Congress understand the extent to which, and how, agencies have already acquired AI staff in response to the expansive and demanding AI Executive Order.”

Sen. Cruz highlighted potential conflicts of interest arising from acquiring temporary staff funded by Big Tech companies for establishing and implementing the administration’s AI policy.

“The administration’s reported use of the IPA program to obtain AI staff, however, raises the question whether outside AI groups are improperly influencing federal AI policy. For instance, in March 2022, Politico reported that Google’s former CEO Eric Schmidt was using the IPA program to fund his associates’ placement at the Office of Scientific and Technology Policy in the White House... And a March 2024 report revealed that through the IPA program Facebook billionaire Dustin Moskovitz—a leader of the ‘Effective Altruism’ movement—is paying the salaries of his fellows serving in AI roles at the National Security Council, Department of Defense, and Department of Commerce."

Because agencies are not required to report IPA assignments publicly, there is concern about transparency regarding these Big-Tech funded positions.

“The answer may be that agencies are utilizing the IPA program... Agencies are not required to report records of IPA assignments... Indeed, The White House’s April 2024 Report recommends expanding their use and funding for these valuable talent exchange programs,’ including the IPA.”

Sen. Cruz has requested that FTC, Commerce, NSF, and DOT provide documents and responses regarding employees or IPA program fellows hired under President Biden's executive order by July 15th.

For further details on Sen. Cruz's letters:

- [Letter to FTC](#)

- [Letter to Commerce](#)

- [Letter to NSF](#)

- [Letter to DOT](#)