Anthropic Launches Presidential Program to Influence 2028 AI Policy

Anthropic is establishing a presidential engagement program to advise U.S. presidential candidates from both political parties on AI policy ahead of the 2028 election. The company is hiring a Political Programs lead to manage the initiative, which involves providing AI policy education to candidates, preparing executives for political discussions, and overseeing the company's political funding and its employee-funded political action committee, AnthroPAC.

This effort comes as the company prepares for an initial public offering and attempts to manage a strained relationship with the Trump administration. The United States Department of War previously designated the company as a supply chain risk following disputes over the military use of its technology. While CEO Dario Amodei advocates for government regulation of AI, President Donald Trump has rejected regulations that he believes could hinder U.S. competitiveness against China.

Senator Alex Padilla criticized the move, arguing that AI rules should be determined by elected representatives accountable to voters rather than corporate political programs. The initiative highlights the tension between industry-led policy guidance and legislative oversight as the 2028 election cycle approaches.