1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support legislation that protects American workers from job displacement driven by artificial intelligence investments. Recent data shows that US employers cited AI as responsible for nearly 55,000 planned layoffs last year, up from about 17,000 combined in the two years prior according to Challenger data. This trend is accelerating, and workers deserve proactive protection. Major tech companies including Intel, Microsoft, and Amazon have conducted mass layoffs while simultaneously pouring billions into AI investments. Kent Ha was laid off from Intel in July after the company announced it would outsource his division's work to Accenture, which planned to use AI to enhance marketing efforts. Joe Friend, a director of product management, was laid off from Microsoft in May along with thousands of others, with many suspecting the cuts were about freeing up money for AI investments rather than AI actually replacing jobs. James Hwang lost his Amazon IT support job in October, months after CEO Andy Jassy stated he expected AI-driven efficiency gains would eventually lead to a smaller workforce. A Goldman Sachs survey found that while 90% of analysts said AI hasn't yet affected employment levels at the companies they cover, 60% expect it to drive lower employment over the next five years. Workers are being forced to shoulder the burden of this transition without adequate support or transparency about why they're losing their jobs. I urge you to champion legislation that requires companies to provide transparency when AI contributes to layoff decisions, mandates retraining programs funded by employers making AI investments, and creates safety nets for workers displaced by automation. American workers built these companies and deserve protection as technology reshapes the economy. They need clear answers about job security and meaningful support to adapt to an AI-driven future.