The recent expansion of OpenAI's policy team has drawn attention in Washington after the company told Axios it has hired Jessica Schumer, the daughter of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to oversee policy and partnerships in the U.S. The move comes as lawmakers increasingly grapple with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the massive data center infrastructure needed to support it. Chuck Schumer has been one of the highest-profile voices in Congress discussing the opportunities and challenges posed by AI and data centers, calling for both AI infrastructure expansion and greater accountability for data center developers.
Newsweek has contacted OpenAI and Chuck Schumer's office for comment. OpenAI's hiring of Jessica Schumer, whose previous roles include head of New York policy and community engagement at Amazon, is part of a broader expansion of the company's policy operation. The ChatGPT maker recently added multiple policy specialists focused on state-level government relations as states increasingly consider legislation governing artificial intelligence.
"Jessica will focus on state and local public policy efforts and not federal policy or engagement with Congress. She will not be involved in any advocacy before the Minority Leader or his office related to OpenAI business," the company said in statement, per the New York Post. The company's move reflects growing recognition that state lawmakers are playing a larger role in shaping AI policy while federal regulations remain under development.
Chuck Schumer has consistently argued that the United States must expand its AI infrastructure if it hopes to remain competitive with global rivals. In Senate floor remarks delivered in January 2025, he said the U.S. must "build the capacity" needed to support growing AI demand after major technology companies announced plans for large-scale investments in AI and data center development. The Democrat has framed AI as a strategic technology that will require substantial investments in power generation, transmission infrastructure and computing capacity.
Chuck Schumer has generally supported expanding the facilities needed to sustain the U.S.'s AI ambitions. At the same time, the senator has repeatedly stressed that data center growth should not come at the expense of households or local communities. In March, he unveiled an energy affordability agenda that included proposals to ensure data centers "pay their fair share and promote healthy communities." He also called for stronger consumer protections aimed at preventing taxpayers from absorbing costs tied to growing AI-related electricity demand.
The issue has become increasingly prominent as utilities, regulators and lawmakers debate who should fund billions of dollars in grid upgrades needed to serve large data center projects. Critics have warned that residential customers could face higher utility bills if technology companies are not required to bear a significant portion of those costs. Chuck Schumer has positioned himself as a supporter of AI expansion while arguing that the companies benefiting from the boom should cover associated infrastructure expenses instead of passing them on to consumers.
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