# House Lawmakers Seek AI Defense Assessment

Rep. Lance Gooden and three co-signers asked Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to assess whether U.S. defenses and current laws can address emerging AI-related threats, including agentic systems that exceed testing boundaries and foreign actors’ use of AI. The request is a federal oversight action, not a solicitation or contract award; any resulting legislative proposals or agency requirements could affect contractors working in AI security, national security, and critical-infrastructure protection.

- AI-security and national-security contractors should track any resulting legislative proposals or agency requirements, as these could shape future procurement needs.
- Procurement professionals can treat the request as an oversight signal, but it announces no funding, solicitation, award, or immediate contractor compliance requirement.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology, Defense & Military
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity
**Published:** October 09, 2026

### Government Entities
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
- U.S. House of Representatives

### Key Quotes
> Congress needs to know whether our current defenses are able to keep pace and where we need to act before the next threat becomes a crisis.
> — Lance Gooden, U.S. Representative

### Sources
- [Gooden Seeks Clayton’s Assessment of U.S. AI/SI Defenses, Offers Congressional Support | Press Releases | Congressman Lance Gooden](https://gooden.house.gov/press-releases?ID=75086BA0-0C2E-46AC-915E-E710077AE939) - Gooden