In a new op-ed published in The Hill, Jim Townsend, director of the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, and Patrick Carter argue that lawmakers should take immediate steps to strengthen oversight of artificial intelligence used by government agencies.
They propose a framework built around three principles: government AI systems must be transparent to the public, approved through appropriate legislative and safety reviews, and stoppable by accountable officials when they fail. Their argument: lawmakers need not wait for comprehensive AI regulation to ensure greater transparency, accountability and public protection in government’s use of AI.
Transparent, approved and stoppable: A standard for government’s use of AI
By Jim Townsend & Patrick Carter — Nov 3, 2026
State and federal agencies are now using artificial intelligence to help decide a host of life-altering issues such as who gets investigated for a crime and how law enforcement and the military direct their immense power. In most cases, no legislature voted to allow its use, no list tells the public what AI systems are being employed to help make these decisions, and no one knows for sure who can turn them off.
Bill Gates said last month that lawmakers need to establish mandatory “safeguards and monitoring” for AI use. A consensus on comprehensive AI regulation, though, seems far away, and rules for the companies building these tools will take time. But there is no reason the government cannot begin policing its own use of AI today. Lawmakers do not have to wait to safeguard and monitor government AI use. They can do that now as they debate other ways to respond to AI.