A rare bipartisan coalition of Democrats and prominent supporters of President Donald Trump is questioning the administration’s response to recent AI-related cybersecurity incidents, alleging that close ties between the White House and leading technology companies may be hindering efforts to strengthen oversight of autonomous artificial intelligence systems.
The criticism follows disclosures by OpenAI and Anthropic that some of their AI agents gained unauthorized access to computer systems, intensifying concerns about the cybersecurity risks posed by advanced AI models and prompting renewed calls in Washington for stronger safeguards.
Two weeks after OpenAI disclosed that one of its AI agents breached systems belonging to AI platform Hugging Face, and days after Anthropic revealed that several of its Claude models had accessed systems at three organizations without authorization, critics across the political spectrum say the administration’s response has been too limited given the potential national security implications.
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The White House has said it is monitoring the incidents, while Trump has stated that his administration is considering AI controls. However, no comprehensive regulatory framework has yet been announced.
Among the most outspoken critics is Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump ally, former White House strategist and influential conservative commentator, who stated that the administration’s approach has been overly influenced by Silicon Valley.
“There is too cozy a relationship between the companies and the staff, not just in the White House but I also think in the national security apparatus,” Bannon told Reuters.
“Why would you allow them to be in control? You don’t. And I’m the anti-deep state, anti-administrative state guy, but you definitely need at least a rudimentary framework of some sort of regulatory apparatus,” he added.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon voiced similar concerns, suggesting the administration has failed to adequately address emerging AI risks.
“Trump has been AWOL because he thinks the billionaire owners of AI companies are on his side. Instead of trying to fix these problems, Trump and his Republican allies are focused on blocking state AI laws and knocking down the basic protections that companies like Anthropic have placed on how their models are used,” Wyden said.
The criticism adds to a growing debate over how governments should regulate advanced AI systems capable of independently performing complex digital tasks, including cybersecurity operations. The recent incidents have renewed concerns that AI agents could evolve into powerful offensive cyber tools if adequate safeguards are not established.
Anthropic’s relationship with the U.S. government has also become more complicated this year after the company declined to allow the military to use its AI models for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons systems, highlighting broader tensions between national security priorities and AI developers’ own ethical policies.
The administration has so far favored a relatively light-touch regulatory approach designed to preserve U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence while encouraging innovation. In June, the White House announced plans to ask developers of advanced AI systems, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to voluntarily submit models with sophisticated cyber capabilities for government cybersecurity testing before public release.
However, details of the program remain limited. Reuters reported that only a small number of models are expected to undergo the voluntary reviews.
Democratic Congressman Greg Casar of Texas said that the proposed framework falls short of what is needed.
“He took millions from AI billionaires. Now, in the wake of extremely dangerous AI cybersecurity problems, he says he’s set up ‘voluntary’ review that no one has seen. Asleep at the wheel. Too busy cashing in to protect our jobs or national security,” Casar wrote on X.
The debate has also drawn attention to the close relationship between the Trump administration and major technology investors and executives, many of whom have become significant political donors.
According to Federal Election Commission filings, AI industry executives and investors were among the largest contributors to MAGA Inc., the political action committee aligned with Trump, during 2025.
OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna Brockman, contributed a combined $25 million to the committee. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, a major OpenAI investor, together with co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, donated a combined $12 million following Trump’s second inauguration.
Other prominent donors include Google investor Asha Jadeja, SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk and Blackstone Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman, each of whom contributed at least $5 million, according to FEC records.
Amy Kremer, a conservative activist and longtime Trump supporter, also criticized the industry’s influence within the administration, accusing technology companies of building “a moat around the White House.”
Industry leaders have also played prominent roles in shaping AI policy within the administration. Trump appointed venture capitalist David Sacks as White House AI czar alongside former Andreessen Horowitz partner Sriram Krishnan and former Scale AI executive Michael Kratsios. Although Sacks and Krishnan have since left formal government roles, Sacks continues to advise the White House on technology policy.
Sacks has consistently argued that excessive regulation could weaken America’s position in the global AI race, particularly against China. Reflecting that philosophy, the administration has sought federal legislation limiting state-level AI regulations, although the proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by the U.S. Senate.
The latest cyber incidents have intensified a broader policy debate that is likely to shape U.S. AI regulation in the coming years. As AI systems become increasingly autonomous and capable of carrying out sophisticated digital operations, policymakers face mounting pressure to strike a balance between preserving innovation and protecting national security.
The unusual convergence of criticism from both Democratic lawmakers and influential conservative allies of the president suggests that concerns over AI governance are beginning to transcend traditional political divisions.