Congress's Favorite AI Tool Is ChatGPT, According to House Spending Records

ChatGPT dominates paid AI use on Capitol Hill, according to House spending records reviewed by TechCrunch. Congressional offices have been quietly relying on the chatbot to draft memos, summarize legislation, and assist with constituent communications - a finding that puts data on what has previously been anecdotal reporting.

The Numbers

House disbursement records show OpenAI as the largest paid AI vendor in Congress by a wide margin, with multiple committees and individual member offices carrying active ChatGPT Team or Enterprise subscriptions. Total annual spend runs into the low seven figures, with several high-traffic offices accounting for the bulk of usage. Anthropic's Claude is the second most common paid AI tool, and Google Gemini trails in third.

"ChatGPT has become the default AI tool in the House, the way Gmail became the default email tool a decade ago," a House staffer told TechCrunch.

What It's Used For

Reported use cases include drafting constituent response letters, summarizing long bills, preparing hearing questions, and translating dense regulatory language into plain English. Some offices use ChatGPT to draft first versions of op-eds and press releases; others use it to clean up rough notes into formal memos. AI-generated content is then reviewed and edited by staff before being sent or filed.

Why It's Sensitive

Use of generative AI in government raises questions about disclosure, accuracy, and the handling of constituent data. House rules do not currently require offices to disclose AI use, and there is no central policy on which AI tools are approved. Several offices have begun drafting internal AI policies; others are waiting for the House Administration Committee to publish guidance. The Congressional Research Service is studying the question. The disclosure by TechCrunch is likely to accelerate that work.