Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Workforce for AI Trust Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 35 - 0.
Introduced, nothing more yet
Formally proposed, and not yet handed to a committee.
Nearly every bill is sent to a committee within days. Introduction alone is not a sign of support, of momentum, or of any likelihood of passing — any member may introduce any bill.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
What this bill would do
The Workforce for AI Trust Act amends existing laws to grow multidisciplinary teams focused on safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence. It allows the National Science Foundation to provide research fellowships for students and postdoctoral researchers across various disciplines, including humanities and social sciences. The bill also promotes AI skills training and workshops to accelerate scientific discovery. Additionally, it tasks the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with creating a workforce framework to define AI roles, skills, and competencies. This framework is intended to help identify and fill workforce gaps across government and industry.
Yes· 3 of 18
- Scored +9
Would students be better off under this?
Directly provides funding for fellowships, stipends, and AI skills training.
- Scored +8
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Highly beneficial for graduate and postdoctoral students through new fellowship and training opportunities.
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into scientific research?
Directly expands NSF fellowships and training for AI research across multiple disciplines.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Would immigrants be better off under this?
Fellowships are restricted to citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Increases federal spending through NSF fellowships and NIST workforce initiatives.
- Scored -2
Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens?
Fellowship eligibility is strictly limited to US citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Financial Support for Researchers: The bill provides for graduate fellowships covering tuition, fees, and stipends, as well as postdoctoral fellowships covering salaries, benefits, and relocation costs (Section 2(b)(1)(D)(ii)).
- Interdisciplinary Opportunities: It opens AI research funding to people in the humanities and social science disciplines, not just technical fields (Section 2(b)(1)(D)(i)).
- Enhanced Education and Training: The bill encourages AI skills-based training, certification programs, and experiential learning for undergraduate and graduate students (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
- Workforce Guidance: By creating a common lexicon and description of skills needed for AI work, the NIST workforce framework helps education and training programs better prepare the public and private sector workforce (Section 3(c)(b)(1)(A) and (D)(ii)).
- Diverse Perspectives in Research: It requires merit review panels for AI research to include diverse perspectives from legal, linguistic, and ethics disciplines (Section 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Eligibility: Fellowship opportunities are restricted only to citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States (Section 2(b)(1)(D)(iii)(I)).
- Strict Academic Requirements: Postdoctoral fellowships are limited to those who received their doctoral degree no earlier than five years before the fellowship begins (Section 2(b)(1)(D)(iii)(IV)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — Directly provides funding for fellowships, stipends, and AI skills training. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Highly beneficial for graduate and postdoctoral students through new fellowship and training opportunities. Would business owners be better off under this? — Helps businesses define and find the AI talent they need via the NIST framework. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Beneficial for mid-career professionals through the AI workforce framework and skills training. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Fellowships reduce the financial burden for students pursuing high-value AI degrees. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides educational funding and professional development paths in AI. Would union members be better off under this? — Includes labor organizations in the stakeholder input process for the AI workforce framework. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Fellowships are restricted to citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Directly expands NSF fellowships and training for AI research across multiple disciplines. Does this make college cost less? — Provides graduate fellowships covering tuition, fees, and stipends. Does this give people more control over their personal data? — Encourages the development of trustworthy and safe AI systems.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Creates funding for fellowships and establishes a workforce framework to identify and fill AI employment gaps. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Invests in high-tech human capital and AI workforce development which can drive economic innovation. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Focuses on the development of 'safe and trustworthy' AI systems. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The NIST workforce framework provides guidance that can help smaller businesses identify required AI skills. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Increases federal spending through NSF fellowships and NIST workforce initiatives.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires the NIST AI workforce framework to be made publicly available. Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands the mandates of NSF and NIST in overseeing AI workforce frameworks.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — Increases NSF funding for interdisciplinary AI research.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Promotes the development of safe and trustworthy AI, which is critical for national security and cyber defense.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — Fellowship eligibility is strictly limited to US citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents.
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 35 - 0.
- 6/18/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Frank LucasRepublican · Oklahoma