The major expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is the greatest American economic success story in a generation. Some of the development has been driven by large tech companies like Microsoft that committed $80 billion in new AI development, meaning tens of thousands of good paying jobs. Or Google, which announced a $9 billion commitment in Oklahoma alone.
But the real sign of this being a success is made-in-America startups like CoreWeave, which just inked a landmark $14.2 billion deal for AI cloud infrastructure. This agreement, using new Nvidia chips, shows that smaller companies are also fueling the AI revolution. These deals not only boost jobs and GDP, but also position America as the leader in the AI race.
But as our friends on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees tell the Washington Reporter, this race is far from won. China also has massive initiatives like “Made in China 2025” and huge state investments, and is aiming for AI supremacy by 2030.
Some conservatives laugh at this central planning — unfortunately, it’s no laughing matter. If China beats us in the AI race, the problem isn’t just economic: it’s national security. Superior AI would mean superior drones, missiles, defense systems, and everything else that we depend on. We cannot let it happen, and that’s why the Washington Reporter commends President Donald Trump’s commitment to win the AI race.
And here’s where Republicans in Congress can do their parts. Failed liberal states like California and Illinois are enacting patchwork AI laws that will gut the industry. California’s SB 53 — law as of September 2025 — mandates all sorts of restrictions and reporting on AI models.
It’s the type of requirements that large companies like Meta can probably handle fine. But to the smaller firms that are actually driving AI development and job growth, dealing with California’s law — and potentially 49 other laws — is an existential threat.
Republicans in Congress should act decisively: pass federal legislation preempting these overreaching state laws. Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) had a great proposal that almost made it into reconciliation. He should try again. And every Senate Republican should back him.
A unified national framework would foster many more CoreWeaves, prioritizing deregulation to unleash AI’s potential here in the US, instead of in China. As the White House’s AI Action Plan urges, removing barriers is key to winning the global race.
Republicans should champion American ingenuity, not hobble it with ideological red tape. By safeguarding our lead, we ensure AI delivers prosperity for generations — a true American success story.