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Sen. Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill to Create AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Giving Americans 50% Ownership of Major AI Companies
On Thursday, June 18, 2026, Senator Bernie Sanders (I‑Vt.) introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act in the United States Senate. The proposal would create a federal fund that holds a 50 percent ownership stake in the country’s largest artificial‑intelligence companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI. The bill would fund the fund by levying a one‑time 50 percent tax on the stock of those companies, paid in shares rather than cash. The fund would give the public voting rights and board seats in the companies it owns.
The act is part of Sanders’ broader effort to address what he describes as an “oligarchic” concentration of power in the AI sector. In a New York Times op‑ed published on June 1, the senator argued that the public should share in the upside of AI companies that are worth billions of dollars. He said that the fund would allow all Americans to receive a portion of the companies’ profits, which would be distributed directly to citizens. The proposal also includes a provision that would freeze new AI data‑center construction until Congress passes comprehensive AI safety laws, a measure that has been supported by other lawmakers such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez.
The idea of a public‑owned AI fund is not new. President Trump, in a surprise statement in early June, suggested that the United States take a small ownership stake in AI giants so that the public could benefit from their growth. The Sanders proposal is a more expansive version, with a 50 percent stake and a dedicated sovereign wealth fund. Other countries have sovereign wealth funds that invest in a range of assets, but none have targeted private AI firms in this way.
The bill would require the federal government to purchase half of the outstanding shares of each targeted company. The shares would be held in a special trust managed by the Treasury Department. The fund would have the authority to appoint board members and exercise voting rights in the companies. The proceeds from dividends and capital gains would be paid to the fund and then distributed to the public, either as direct payments or as a share of the fund’s overall return.
Supporters argue that the fund would reduce the influence of a handful of private actors on AI development and ensure that the benefits of AI are shared more broadly. Critics raise concerns about the feasibility of buying large blocks of shares, the potential impact on the companies’ ability to raise capital, and the risk of political interference in private enterprise. The bill also faces legal and regulatory hurdles, including questions about the constitutionality of a federal tax on private company stock and the potential for antitrust challenges.
The Senate has not yet assigned the bill to a committee. It will likely be reviewed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over technology policy. The bill’s passage will require bipartisan support, and it may face opposition from industry groups and some lawmakers who worry about the precedent of government ownership of private firms.
As of now, the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act remains a proposal. The next steps will involve committee hearings, public testimony, and negotiations over the bill’s language. If passed, the fund would become a new source of public investment in AI and could alter the balance of power in the sector. The bill also signals a growing debate in Washington about how to manage the rapid growth of AI technology and its economic and societal impacts.
In summary, Senator Sanders’ bill seeks to create a federal fund that owns half of the largest AI companies in the United States, funded by a one‑time stock tax. The proposal includes a moratorium on new AI data‑center construction until safety laws are enacted. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, and its future depends on congressional debate and potential opposition from industry and legal challenges.
The act is part of Sanders’ broader effort to address what he describes as an “oligarchic” concentration of power in the AI sector. In a New York Times op‑ed published on June 1, the senator argued that the public should share in the upside of AI companies that are worth billions of dollars. He said that the fund would allow all Americans to receive a portion of the companies’ profits, which would be distributed directly to citizens. The proposal also includes a provision that would freeze new AI data‑center construction until Congress passes comprehensive AI safety laws, a measure that has been supported by other lawmakers such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez.
The idea of a public‑owned AI fund is not new. President Trump, in a surprise statement in early June, suggested that the United States take a small ownership stake in AI giants so that the public could benefit from their growth. The Sanders proposal is a more expansive version, with a 50 percent stake and a dedicated sovereign wealth fund. Other countries have sovereign wealth funds that invest in a range of assets, but none have targeted private AI firms in this way.
The bill would require the federal government to purchase half of the outstanding shares of each targeted company. The shares would be held in a special trust managed by the Treasury Department. The fund would have the authority to appoint board members and exercise voting rights in the companies. The proceeds from dividends and capital gains would be paid to the fund and then distributed to the public, either as direct payments or as a share of the fund’s overall return.
Supporters argue that the fund would reduce the influence of a handful of private actors on AI development and ensure that the benefits of AI are shared more broadly. Critics raise concerns about the feasibility of buying large blocks of shares, the potential impact on the companies’ ability to raise capital, and the risk of political interference in private enterprise. The bill also faces legal and regulatory hurdles, including questions about the constitutionality of a federal tax on private company stock and the potential for antitrust challenges.
The Senate has not yet assigned the bill to a committee. It will likely be reviewed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over technology policy. The bill’s passage will require bipartisan support, and it may face opposition from industry groups and some lawmakers who worry about the precedent of government ownership of private firms.
As of now, the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act remains a proposal. The next steps will involve committee hearings, public testimony, and negotiations over the bill’s language. If passed, the fund would become a new source of public investment in AI and could alter the balance of power in the sector. The bill also signals a growing debate in Washington about how to manage the rapid growth of AI technology and its economic and societal impacts.
In summary, Senator Sanders’ bill seeks to create a federal fund that owns half of the largest AI companies in the United States, funded by a one‑time stock tax. The proposal includes a moratorium on new AI data‑center construction until safety laws are enacted. The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, and its future depends on congressional debate and potential opposition from industry and legal challenges.
