Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Jeff Merkley
ON THE RECORD · 5 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“[Y]our company's capital expenditures, the 'vast majority' of which constitute data center construction and other AI spending amounted to an extraordinary $72 billion last year — much of which you may have been able to immediately deduct using OBBBA's corporate tax handouts.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Jeff Merkley · said 2026-09-28 · reported 2026-09-28
The lawmakers wrote that Meta's capital expenditures, largely for data centers and AI spending, reached $72 billion last year and may have been immediately deductible under OBBBA.
“This enormous tax cut appears to have been driven in significant part by President Trump and Republicans' tax breaks subsidizing your spending on AI,”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Jeff Merkley · said 2026-09-28 · reported 2026-09-28
The lawmakers wrote in their letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that the company's tax cut appeared driven by Republican tax breaks subsidizing AI spending.
“Your company has spent lavishly to stay on the good side of President Trump, and it appears that you are now seeing your investment bear fruit,”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Jeff Merkley · said 2026-09-28 · reported 2026-09-28
The lawmakers wrote that the companies contributed to Trump's inauguration and spent millions lobbying Congress before passage of the 2025 tax and spending bill.
“Americans across the country are worried about the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on their lives —from increased utility bills to threats of job losses and cyberattacks,”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Jeff Merkley · said 2026-09-28 · reported 2026-09-28
The lawmakers sent letters to the CEOs of Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft seeking information on AI and data center tax deductions claimed under the 2025 tax and spending package.
“But rather than meaningfully regulate Big Tech companies and slow down the mad rush to deploy this new technology, Republicans in Washington have passed tax subsidies for AI development and AI data centers.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Jeff Merkley · said 2026-09-28 · reported 2026-09-28
The lawmakers wrote that Republicans had passed tax subsidies for AI development and data centers rather than regulating Big Tech.