ICYMI: Bennet Calls for New Federal Agency to Prevent Catastrophic AI Risk

Sep 25, 2026 | Press Releases

Video of Bennet's interview on The Source with Kaitlan Collins can be found HERE.

Washington, D.C. - This week, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced a new proposal to create an independent federal agency to regulate frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and social media platforms.

In an interview with Kaitlan Collins on CNN's The Source last night, Bennet contrasted his call for an independent federal AI regulator with what he described as President Donald Trump's failure to establish meaningful safeguards. He emphasized that Trump was more focused on his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the tech executives gathered at the White House than on addressing the concerns Americans are facing, including the need for AI regulation, high diesel prices, and high mortgage rates.

CNN - The Source

Collins: You want to establish an independent agency, basically, to regulate AI. How would that work?

Bennet: It would have a five-member commission, like some other independent commissions, and we would have clear pre-clearance for these frontier models before they escape from these companies and wreak havoc throughout our world potentially. And there is a very serious set of fines. I mean, what I say in this proposal is that we should fine these guys as much as a third of their trailing revenue if they're unwilling to submit themselves to a system of transparency, to a system of accountability, Kaitlin. When there are people in these companies saying that there might be a 10 percent chance, or a 15 or 20 percent chance that humanity could be destroyed by AI, we need to listen to that. We need to pay attention to that, and we need to deal with it in an orderly way - not so we don't innovate - we should innovate. I want us to lead the Chinese, but we should do it in a thoughtful, common sense way. That's not the way Donald Trump approaches any of these questions. But I think the American people are demanding it.

Bloomberg - Balance of Power

Mathieu: Well, he's trying deliberately to play the right hand on AI, and you've got an important piece of legislation that's trying to get to this. We've had a robust debate here. And the President, speaking on Truth Social earlier, says that America and China see eye to eye. We're taking our hands off the wheel here. This is not a matter of regulation. He says we have something called the DOJ. You have something that would propose a new federal agency to prevent what you call catastrophic AI risks and regulate big tech. How would it work?

Bennet: First of all, I don't think there's anyone in America who thinks that China and the U.S. think eye to eye on AI except for President Trump. What I've said is that we need to have a cop on the beat here. We have nobody whose day job is to represent the American people with respect to the developers of AI, for that matter, of social media. We should have an independent agency of experts that come here just like we, you know, set up, in the early part of the century, to be able to do the regulatory work that's needed. Congress cannot get out of its own way. We've proven that. We will never pass a bill to meaningfully deal with this, and the states can't do it by themselves. We need a thoughtful approach that will come from a regulatory agency that will survive from one presidency to the next, and that's got the teeth to be able to find these guys if they are pursuing models that could threaten, for example, the extinction of humanity. I mean, this is something that we have to grapple with. We have to get a hold of it. And it doesn't surprise me that our current structures of government are not set up to deal with it. This is new, just like airplanes were once new, just like nuclear weapons, armaments were once new. We need an agency, just like we have for those other important changes in our economy that's focused on this 24/7.

Here's what they're saying:

Politico: AI BILL FRENZY

The AI Regulator Act builds off their previous bill, the Digital Platform Commission Act, which would establish an agency tasked with regulating digital platforms. The latest bill would give the proposed agency the power to pause the release of models that pose catastrophic risk and issue formal rules.

"The Federal Digital Commission would keep pace with innovation, act before serious harm occurs, and have the authority to hold companies accountable when they break the rules," Bennet added.

Colorado Springs FOX (KXRM)

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet proposes a new federal agency to oversee artificial intelligence and big tech. This would give the agency power to review some front-tier AI models before they're released. And in some circumstances, pause a rollout for up to 6 months. It would also have investigative and rulemaking authority, which potentially finds up to 15 percent of a company's global revenue. Right now, Bennet says existing federal agencies are not equipped to keep up with AI's rapid development. It's moving faster than Congress will ever keep up. That's why I'm proposing an independent agency with the expertise and authority to protect the American people and keep pace with AI.

Grand Junction CBS (KREX)

Well, Senator Michael Bennet is proposing a new federal agency to oversee artificial intelligence and major tech companies. Under the plan, the agency could review some advanced AI models before they're released and, in certain cases, delay a rollout for up to six months. The agency would also have the power to investigate companies, create regulations, and issue fines of up to 15 percent of a company's global revenue. Bennet says current federal agencies are not equipped to keep pace with the rapid growth of AI. It's moving faster than Congress will ever keep up. That's why I'm proposing an independent agency with the expertise and authority to protect the American people and keep pace with AI.

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