OpenAI's ChatGPT has emerged as the most commonly used AI tool on Capitol Hill, dominating congressional spending on artificial intelligence within the past year. According to House disbursement records analyzed by CNBC, approximately 90% of the AI budget allocated by House offices, committees, and institutional accounts was spent on ChatGPT, totaling around $100,580 across 798 transactions by March 31, 2026. In comparison, Anthropic’s AI tool, Claude, was a distant second with expenditures amounting to $13,160 over 37 transactions.

Usage of AI tools like ChatGPT among congressional staffers extends beyond simple queries, serving as a significant aide in drafting memos, summarizing and analyzing legislation, managing communications with constituents, and preparing for hearings. AI also helps in sorting through policy research and creating social media content, indicating a broad integration into everyday legislative workflows. These figures, however, account only for paid subscriptions and exclude free or bundled AI usage.

Democratic congressional offices led the AI spending trend, investing $54,165 on AI tools, which was roughly three times the $15,782 expended by Republican offices during the same period. This difference highlights varying levels of technology adoption or budget priorities between political parties. The reported figures also underscore the growing significance of AI tools in government, particularly in enhancing productivity and communication efficiency.

This trend toward widespread AI adoption reflects the evolving landscape of government work, where technological assistance is becoming indispensable. ChatGPT’s prominent position as the favored AI platform illustrates OpenAI’s growing influence within the public sector’s technology ecosystem. As Congress continues to navigate complex legislative demands, AI tools are set to play an increasingly central role in supporting lawmakers and staff.