What Chuck Schumer Has Said About Data Centers as Daughter Joins OpenAI
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. 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. Northeast.
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. He has also pushed for stronger consumer safeguards and investments in the nation's aging electric grid.
Another recurring theme in the Democrat's remarks has been the need for cleaner sources of power.
During his January 2025 floor speech, he argued that the enormous electricity requirements of AI data centers would demand additional clean energy generation and transmission infrastructure. He criticized efforts to slow renewable energy development , saying investments in wind, solar and other clean-energy resources are essential to supporting future AI demand.
"AI data centers will depend on more clean energy production and transmission, and cutting clean energy will cut a good chunk of the new energy that's about to come on board," Chuck Schumer said.
He has also advocated for expanding nuclear, geothermal, solar and wind power as part of a broader strategy to meet growing electricity needs, reduce pollution and "limit taxpayer expense while maximizing innovation and deployment."
Those positions mirror a broader debate underway across the country.
Technology companies maintain that new data centers are critical to economic growth, innovation and U.S. leadership in AI.
At the same time, regulators, consumer advocates and local officials are increasingly asking whether companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta should bear more responsibility for the industry's growing energy footprint.
Questions over electricity consumption, transmission investments and environmental impacts have become central issues in states experiencing rapid data center growth .
Jessica Schumer's appointment comes as OpenAI ramps up its state-level policy efforts amid a wave of AI-related legislation across the U.S.
The company appears to be strengthening its ability to engage with lawmakers as states consider new rules governing AI development and deployment.
For Chuck Schumer, the issue appears to be balancing two priorities: ensuring the United States builds enough AI and data center capacity to remain globally competitive while requiring developers to pay their share of infrastructure costs, protect local communities and rely on cleaner sources of energy rather than passing expenses on to consumers.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and Shakeema Edwards .
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