Staff Reports
Washington, D.C. — In a rare display of cross-aisle cooperation on technology policy, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) have led a bipartisan, bicameral letter pressing the Trump Administration to integrate worker-focused safeguards into federal artificial intelligence policies, guidance, and procurement practices.
The letter, sent this week to President Donald Trump and other administration officials, including Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, highlights the AFL-CIO’s “Workers First” AI principles—outlined in an October 2025 report — as a practical roadmap for ensuring AI deployment benefits the broader American workforce rather than displacing it.
“Making AI benefit American workers is not only a matter of fairness, but is essential to U.S. global competitiveness, economic leadership, and long-term security,” the lawmakers stated. “Artificial intelligence can support innovation, new industries, and expanded opportunity, but its impact will ultimately be determined by the working people whose skill and judgment put those tools to use. That promise will only be realized if AI is developed and deployed with meaningful worker involvement and input.”
Emphasis on transparency, human oversight, and worker voice
Kelly and Fitzpatrick stressed that as AI systems become more embedded in workplaces across industries, policies must prioritize transparency and collaboration. Workers, they argued, should receive clear information about how AI is used, what data is collected, and how automated decisions are made. Human judgment must remain central, and employees should have meaningful recourse when AI influences job assignments, performance evaluations, or employment status.
The pair called for “worker-centered guardrails” in federal AI efforts and urged the administration to include labor organizations, frontline workers, and workforce experts in ongoing policy development. “We stand ready to work with you in a bipartisan manner, so that American workers are full partners in shaping the future of artificial intelligence,” they wrote.
This initiative aligns with Kelly’s broader “AI for America” framework, which seeks to harness AI for economic growth while supporting workers and communities impacted by technological change.
AFL-CIO Applauds the Move
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler welcomed the letter, praising the lawmakers for elevating workers’ perspectives amid rapid AI adoption.
“AI is reshaping the future of work, and it is vital that workers’ voices are centered in the adoption of new technologies,” Shuler said. “America’s unions are meeting the AI innovation wave head-on with a vision for how AI can improve workers’ lives, rather than threatening their freedoms or their livelihoods. I commend Senator Mark Kelly and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick for standing with workers and advocating for an AI agenda that puts working people first at every step. The AFL-CIO looks forward to partnering with members of Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike — who are committed to prioritizing working families over tech billionaires.”
The AFL-CIO’s principles, released last fall, include calls to strengthen labor rights and collective bargaining; establish guardrails against harmful uses of AI; protect copyright and intellectual property; promote worker-centered training and upskilling; ensure transparency and accountability; model responsible practices in government procurement; and safeguard civil rights.
Context amid broader AI push
The bipartisan outreach comes as the Trump Administration advances its own AI initiatives, including efforts to maintain U.S. leadership in the technology amid competition with China. Concerns about AI’s potential effects on jobs have grown among voters and some industry voices, making workforce impacts a focal point in policy debates.
Observers note that the letter reflects ongoing tensions between accelerating innovation and the need to protect workers from displacement or diminished job quality. By referencing the AFL-CIO’s framework, Kelly and Fitzpatrick aim to promote a balanced approach that fosters economic growth without leaving working families behind.
The full letter is available here.
