Senate Strikes AI Clause from Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ Curbing Big Tech Influence
Senate Strikes AI Clause from Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ Curbing Big Tech Influence
In a significant turn of events for the tech industry, the U.S. Senate has voted overwhelmingly to remove a controversial AI-related provision from former President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated legislative package, often dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
In a rare near-unanimous decision—99-1 vote early Tuesday morning—senators struck down a section that would have restricted individual states from creating and enforcing their own AI regulations. This move is seen as a clear rebuke of Big Tech influence and a win for state-level authority over emerging technology governance.
A Closer Look at the AI Provision
The provision in question, originally introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), was intended to streamline AI deployment by limiting a patchwork of state laws. At its inception, the language would have created a 10-year federal override, preventing any state from enacting its own AI rules.
As pushback mounted from both Democrats and Republicans, the measure was softened—first allowing limited state regulation at the cost of losing federal AI funding, and later, shortened to five years with carveouts for specific issues like child protection.
But by Monday night, that compromise had unraveled.
Senator Blackburn: “Unacceptable to Those Who Need Protection”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), who had helped broker the revised terms, eventually led the charge against the final language.
“While I appreciate Chairman Cruz's efforts to find acceptable language... the current language is not acceptable to those who need these protections the most,” she stated Monday.
Blackburn expressed concern that the clause, even in its revised form, would have opened the door for Big Tech to sidestep accountability, particularly regarding child safety, conservative voices, and digital creators.
She introduced an amendment to strip the provision entirely, and with mounting bipartisan support, the amendment passed easily in the early hours of Tuesday.
A Setback for Big Tech — and a Win for Federalism
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), one of the most vocal opponents of the original clause, celebrated the result on social media:
“Federalism is preserved and humans are safe for now.”
This statement reflects a growing movement within Congress—across party lines—to rein in tech giants and ensure that states maintain authority over digital and AI-related issues that directly affect their residents.
Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Moves Forward Without AI Preemption
Despite the high-profile clash over the AI provision, the broader bill survived intact. Later on Tuesday, the Senate approved the full legislative package in a narrow 50-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
The bill is now headed to the House, where lawmakers are expected to vote later this week. Supporters are optimistic about sending the final version to Trump’s desk by July 4.