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Reps. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., and James Walkinshaw, D-Va., are looking to address concerns about unregulated uses of artificial intelligence in separate amendments offered to the House Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Bill.
Proposed amendments to the Department of Veterans Affairs' fiscal year 2027 funding bill aim to regulate the agency's use of artificial intelligence. The House Rules Committee is reviewing these proposals, which reflect ongoing concerns among lawmakers regarding the appropriate deployment and potential risks of AI in government operations. The broader FY27 funding package for VA, which includes significant allocations for modernization and technology, has already passed the House Appropriations Committee. These new amendments highlight the legislative branch's growing focus on establishing clear boundaries and oversight mechanisms for AI technologies within federal agencies, particularly those impacting sensitive areas like veterans' benefits.
Representative Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) has introduced a significant amendment that seeks to prohibit the VA from using artificial intelligence to make final determinations on disability compensation claims. This measure underscores a legislative intent to ensure that human judgment remains paramount in critical decisions affecting veterans' access to healthcare, financial stability, and earned benefits. While the VA currently utilizes AI and automation to expedite the processing of benefits claims, and maintains that human officials always render the final decisions, Gosar's proposal aims to enshrine a clear safeguard against AI overreach. His office emphasizes the necessity of human review for nuanced medical evidence, individualized circumstances, and credibility assessments, arguing that AI should serve as a support tool rather than a final decision-maker.
In parallel, Representative James Walkinshaw (D-Va.) has proposed an amendment targeting the unapproved or unregulated use of artificial intelligence models and applications, commonly known as 'shadow AI,' within the VA's information technology networks. This proposal mandates that the VA submit a comprehensive report to relevant congressional committees within 180 days of the funding bill's enactment. This report would detail the prevalence of such shadow AI uses, and critically, assess any associated cybersecurity risks and data exposure vulnerabilities. The concern is that employees might be leveraging AI tools outside official channels, potentially introducing security gaps and operating without proper agency oversight or risk management protocols. This amendment reflects a proactive approach to understanding and mitigating the unforeseen risks that emergent AI technologies can pose when not properly governed within federal systems.