{"id":2507313,"date":"2025-11-06T05:02:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tech-donors-secure-influence-in-congress-through-fellowship-program\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T05:07:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:07:38","slug":"tech-donors-secure-influence-in-congress-through-fellowship-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tech-donors-secure-influence-in-congress-through-fellowship-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech donors secure influence in Congress through fellowship program"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftech-donors-secure-influence-in-congress-through-fellowship-program%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2507313&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Horizon Institute for Public Service, a nonprofit closely connected to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-real-victims-of-sam-bankman-frieds-ponzi-scheme-are-not-celebrities-or-institutional-partners-but-everyday-investors\/\" title=\"The Real Victims Of Sam Bankman...Fried\u2019s Ponzi Scheme Are Not Celebri... Or Institutional Partners, But Everyday Investors\">effective altruism movement<\/a>, has strategically placed numerous fellows in influential government offices and think tanks in Washington, D.C., impacting technology and AI-related policies. Effective altruists are particularly concerned about the possibly catastrophic risks of artificial intelligence if left unregulated and often advocate for export controls on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/6-major-things-biden-failed-to-address-in-his-speech-to-congress\/\" title=\"6 Major Things Biden F...led To Address In His Speech To Congress\">advanced semiconductor chips<\/a>,especially to China,due to military and ethical considerations.<\/p>\n<p>Several Horizon Fellows have worked directly on export control policies at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-soross-secret-network-used-ukraine-to-cover-for-hillary-hunter-and-target-donald-trump\/\" title=\"How Soros\u2019s Secret Net... Used Ukr...ne to Cover for Hillary, Hunter, and Target Donald Trump\">key government agencies<\/a> such as the House Foreign Affairs committee and the Bureau of Industry and Security, sometimes continuing their policy work in permanent government roles after their fellowships. Notably, Sen. jim Banks hosted a Horizon fellow while introducing legislation aimed at prioritizing U.S. access to advanced AI chips over foreign competitors, reflecting the influence the institute&#8217;s fellows can exert on national security and technology policy.<\/p>\n<p>the Horizon Institute&#8217;s funding comes from prominent effective altruism-aligned donors, including Open Philanthropy and Good Ventures, founded by Dustin Moskovitz, and benefits from support by major Silicon Valley donors. Its leadership also has ties to effective altruism and related think tanks like Georgetown&#8217;s Centre for Security and Emerging Technology and the RAND Corporation, which have played critically important roles in shaping U.S.AI policies.<\/p>\n<p>Critics warn that the presence of industry-aligned fellows inside government could create conflicts of interest, potentially allowing the AI sector to shape laws in its favor. However,the horizon Institute maintains it does not pursue specific political agendas and supports fellows across the ideological spectrum.<\/p>\n<p>the Horizon Institute leverages fellowship programs to embed technical talent within government and policy institutions,thereby influencing the development and implementation of emerging technology regulations,especially those aligned with effective altruism concerns about AI risks and export controls.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Effective Altruism-linked nonprofit placed fellows in key government offices, secured influence<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1528693\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The Horizon Institute for Public Service, a nonprofit organization with extensive ties to the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >tech-adjacent effective altruism movement<\/a>, has deployed a small army of fellows at influential think tanks and government offices across Washington, D.C. At times, these fellows have worked on policy affecting the goals of effective altruists.<\/p>\n<p>Effective altruists broadly believe that the development of artificial intelligence, if not carefully managed, could have apocalyptic consequences. As an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/jacobin.com\/2024\/02\/effective-altruism-china-ai-us-policy\">outgrowth<\/a> of this belief, many in the movement support export controls on cutting-edge chips to China, given the country&rsquo;s focus on military applications for Artificial Intelligence technology and its lack of research guardrails.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3873410\/foreign-agents-look-to-influence-conservative-think-tanks\/\">Foreign agents look to influence conservative think tanks&nbsp;in Trump&#8217;s Washington<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3872385\/why-northern-virginia-schools-still-woke-battlegrounds\/\">Why northern Virginia schools are still woke battlegrounds<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3871207\/top-virginia-democrat-cut-checks-church-campaigning-spanberger-jones\/\">A top Virginia Democrat cut checks to this church. Now it&#8217;s campaigning for Spanberger and Jones<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Indeed, two profiles the Horizon Institute published on its fellows explicitly mention export controls. One fellow, who was placed at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonpublicservice.org\/fellow\/zeena-nisar\/\">House Foreign Affairs Committee<\/a>, is said to have done work &ldquo;supporting export controls&rdquo; during her time in the fellowship. The other, a data scientist by trade who completed his fellowship at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonpublicservice.org\/fellow\/michael-jacob\/\">Bureau of Industry and Security<\/a>, researched &ldquo;export controls and their ability to mitigate converged AI and bio risks&rdquo; during his tenure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Both received offers to continue their work in government following the fellowship, highlighting how the Horizon Institute&rsquo;s influence can persist by translating temporary fellowships into full-fledged employment.<\/p>\n<p>More recently, Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN), who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonpublicservice.org\/fellow\/harrison-durland\/\">hosted<\/a> a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/harrison-durland\/\">Horizon Institute fellow <\/a>in his office, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/09\/17\/china-hawks-white-house-face-off-in-senate-play-over-microchips-00569339\">introduced<\/a> the GAIN AI Act in August, which aims to give United States customers priority over foreign businesses in purchasing top-of-the-line chips by amending the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. Legislators have since folded the bill into the Senate&rsquo;s version of the National Defense Authorization Act.<\/p>\n<p>Banks&rsquo;s office did not respond when asked if its Horizon Institute fellow played a role in shaping the legislation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Prior to drafting the GAIN AI Act, and while hosting its Horizon Institute fellow, Banks&rsquo;s office <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.banking.senate.gov\/newsroom\/minority\/senators-warren-and-banks-probe-nvidia-ceo-on-upcoming-trip-to-peoples-republic-of-china\">drafted<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/us-senators-warn-nvidia-ceo-about-upcoming-china-trip-2025-07-11\/\">letters<\/a> alongside Sen. Elizabeth Warren&rsquo;s (D-MA) office raising concerns about chipmaker NVIDIA&rsquo;s relationship with China, especially its alleged role in exploiting gaps in export control regulations.<\/p>\n<p>A source close to the institute told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>that, based on their experience socializing with the fellows, they possess a wide range of views related to export controls and effective altruism, with some being skeptical of the ideas. Some fellows have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/carnegieendowment.org\/posts\/2023\/09\/how-hype-over-ai-superintelligence-could-lead-policy-astray?lang=en\">published essays<\/a> criticizing the apocalyptic arguments made by some effective altruists regarding AI and advocating <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.discoursemagazine.com\/p\/dont-let-edge-cases-define-ai-rules\">against <\/a>overly burdensome regulation of AI.<\/p>\n<p>In its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonpublicservice.org\/about-us\/\">description<\/a>, the Horizon Institute <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">states that its fellowship program aims to train the &ldquo;next generation of emerging technology policy talent&rdquo; to effective<\/span>ly develop and implement policies related to the technology sector, while also helping to meet the&nbsp;demand&nbsp;from existing policymakers for tech-savvy staff.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Horizon helps policymakers access deeply needed technical talent, and we do not take or advance particular policy positions,&rdquo; the organization told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;Our fellows span the ideological spectrum, as do our many donors, and fellows&rsquo; work is entirely driven by their host organization.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., speaks during the confirmation hearing of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s choice to be Director of the National Institutes of Health, before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, at Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 5, 2025.&nbsp;(AP Photo\/Ben Curtis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>National security hawks and effective altruists tend to argue that export controls are an important tool for mitigating the risk of China leveraging AI to expand its military capabilities while ensuring that America has access to the necessary hardware to support its tech sector. Others, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Gnl833wXRz0\">including<\/a> OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, however, have argued that American firms are not currently constrained by a lack of access to high-end chips.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Horizon Institute&rsquo;s links to effective altruism run deep. The organization <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.openphilanthropy.org\/grants\/open-philanthropy-technology-policy-fellowship-2022\/\">received<\/a> its initial $2.9 million in seed funding from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/open-philanthropy\/\">Open Philanthropy<\/a>, a nonprofit organization run by Meta co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, who has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@moskov\/works-in-progress-the-long-journey-to-doing-good-better-9dfb68e50868\">publicly identified<\/a> with effective altruism, and his wife. Open Philanthropy has been described as a &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/home\/2024-8-5-what-a-facebook-cofounders-latest-19-billion-for-his-foundation-says-about-philanthropys-future\">pillar<\/a>&rdquo; of the effective altruism community, funding a range of other groups aligned with its cause.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Good Ventures, another nonprofit organization run by Moskovitz and his wife, has also been a major supporter of the Horizon Institute, donating <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/nonprofits\/organizations\/461008520\/202441369349105564\/full\">$11.8 million<\/a> in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>The Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a donor-advised fund that <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">serves as a pass-through funder for many of the wealthiest individuals in the tech world, has&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/nonprofits\/organizations\/205205488\">allocated<\/a><\/span>  millions more dollars to the Horizon Institute since its inception.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond funding, the Horizon Institute&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonpublicservice.org\/member\/remco-zwetsloot\/\">co-founder<\/a> and its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonpublicservice.org\/member\/zachary-arnold\/\">senior director for programs<\/a> both have ties to effective altruism through their previous work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The duo previously worked at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology, a think tank based at Georgetown University and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.georgetown.edu\/news\/qa-with-jason-matheny-founding-director-of-the-center-for-security-and-emerging-technology\/\">founded<\/a> by Jason Matheny, the CEO of the RAND Corporation. Matheny has been <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2023\/10\/13\/open-philanthropy-funding-ai-policy-00121362\">described<\/a> as a &ldquo;luminary in the effective altruist community.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>RAND Corporation significantly influenced the Biden administration&rsquo;s AI policy, with Matheny <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2023\/12\/15\/billionaire-backed-think-tank-played-key-role-in-bidens-ai-order-00132128\">claiming<\/a> at an October 2023 internal meeting that analyses produced by his organization &ldquo;informed new export controls and a key executive action expected from the White House next week.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Matheny also sat on the Horizon Institute&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonpublicservice.org\/update-on-the-horizon-institute-for-public-service\/\">advisory board<\/a> at one point.<\/p>\n<p>Tim Stretton, director of the congressional oversight initiative at the Project on Government Oversight, has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2023\/10\/13\/open-philanthropy-funding-ai-policy-00121362\">criticized<\/a> the Horizon Institute, arguing that it is improper for its fellows to be working on policies that their funding organization has an interest in.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have [the] AI [industry] inserting its staffers into Congress to potentially write new laws and regulations around this emerging field,&rdquo; Stretton said. &ldquo;That is a conflict of interest.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Horizon Institute, however, has defended its fellowship program by stating that it is &ldquo;not for the pursuit of particular policy goals&rdquo; and that it does not screen prospective fellows for ideological alignment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3777669\/john-arnold-billionaire-funding-consensus-healthcare-debate\/\"><strong>MEET THE BILLIONAIRE FUNDING CONSENSUS AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE HEALTHCARE DEBATE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Nonprofit organizations, such as the Horizon Institute, can, under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970, pay the salaries of fellows working in Congress or in the president&rsquo;s administration. Through this arrangement, the Horizon Institute has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/horizonpublicservice.org\/programs\/meet-our-fellows\/\">placed<\/a> nine fellows in congressional offices held by Republicans and six fellows in congressional offices held by Democrats, as well as the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, and the White House. Premier think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation and the RAND Corporation, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-debate-their-ability-to-win-the-general-election-especially-with-trump\/\" title=\"Republicans question their chances of winning the general election, particularly with Trump.\">play significant roles<\/a> in developing AI policy, have also recruited fellows from the Horizon Institute.<\/p>\n<p>The influence of these fellows doesn&rsquo;t necessarily wane after the term of their fellowship expires, as many receive full-time job offers from the offices they worked in or in another government role.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Effective Altruism nonprofit placed fellows in key government roles<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":894,"featured_media":2507314,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ecf3e4302ba468cbd61285bb28440a87.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4402,5131,66573,6219,11458],"class_list":["post-2507313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congress","tag-donors","tag-fellowship-program","tag-influence","tag-technology"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ecf3e4302ba468cbd61285bb28440a87.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2507313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/894"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2507313"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2507313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2507317,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2507313\/revisions\/2507317"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2507314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2507313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2507313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2507313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}