1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I write today with profound concern regarding the accelerating militarization of artificial intelligence and the deeply troubling signals emerging from recent reporting about conflicts between the Pentagon and AI developers over ethical limits on military use. Recent news indicates that negotiations between the Department of Defense and the AI company Anthropic have reached an impasse because the company is attempting to impose guardrails preventing its technology from being used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons systems. Reports suggest that Pentagon officials are pressing for fewer restrictions — seeking broader operational flexibility so long as uses remain technically lawful. This dispute is not simply a contract disagreement; it represents a warning sign about the direction of U.S. military policy toward AI. If even the companies building these systems are alarmed about potential misuse, Congress should be alarmed as well. Artificial intelligence introduces unprecedented risks into warfare: accelerated decision-making beyond human comprehension, opaque targeting systems, potential automation of lethal force, and the normalization of surveillance technologies that could be turned inward against civilian populations. Without clear democratic oversight and enforceable legal boundaries, the United States risks crossing ethical lines that could destabilize global security and erode human rights norms. The current administration’s posture — prioritizing rapid deployment and operational flexibility over transparent governance — raises urgent questions about whether meaningful safeguards are being abandoned in favor of technological escalation. Congress must act immediately. I urge you to pursue the following actions: 1. Establish clear legal limits on military AI • Prohibit fully autonomous lethal systems that operate without meaningful human control. • Ban the use of AI for mass surveillance of civilians or domestic political monitoring. • Require transparent documentation of AI’s role in targeting, analysis, or battlefield decision-making. 2. Launch immediate congressional oversight and hearings • Require testimony under oath from Pentagon leadership, relevant administration officials, and AI company executives. • Investigate current deployments, contracts, and operational uses of AI systems across military and intelligence agencies. • Assess whether AI technologies have been used in lethal operations without sufficient ethical review. 3. Develop international frameworks and treaties • Lead global negotiations toward binding agreements governing military AI use, similar to nuclear or chemical weapons regimes. • Establish shared norms to prevent an uncontrolled global arms race in autonomous or AI-assisted weapons. 4. Protect democratic safeguards and civil liberties • Ensure statutory prohibitions against domestic deployment of military AI tools for surveillance or political repression. • Create independent oversight bodies with technical expertise and subpoena power. The stakes could not be higher. Artificial intelligence has the potential to fundamentally change how wars are fought — and whether humans remain accountable for decisions involving life and death. Without strong governance now, we risk creating a future where algorithms make irreversible decisions at machine speed, detached from democratic accountability or ethical restraint. History will judge whether Congress acted when warning signs were clear. The United States should lead the world not only in technological capability but in moral leadership. That means setting boundaries, protecting human dignity, and ensuring that powerful technologies serve humanity rather than undermine it. I urge you to act with urgency, courage, and clarity. The future of warfare — and perhaps the future of democratic accountability itself — may depend on decisions made today.