This Month's Latest Tech News in Washington, DC - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Washington, DC finds itself at a pivotal moment as 2025 unfolds, with federal policy and industry convening to shape the future of American technological leadership.

The bipartisan momentum in Congress is clear, with recent hearings focusing on the urgent need for robust AI infrastructure, workforce development, and regulatory clarity to support continued U.S. innovation amid fierce global competition - particularly with China's rapid AI advances and model releases like DeepSeek AI. According to experts at Johns Hopkins and leaders from NVIDIA and OpenAI, overcoming regulatory bottlenecks, energy constraints, and skilled labor shortages is essential:

“Infrastructure is destiny.” - Benjamin Schwartz, OpenAI

Meanwhile, landmark reports such as Stanford's Emerging Technology Review are being circulated among top policymakers to inform strategies on AI, semiconductor manufacturing, and biotechnology.

The New Lines Institute underscores that America's technological edge hinges on “collaborative cross-sector efforts” and proactive, nuanced governance that leverages foundational research investments, with many calling for clear federal direction to avoid fragmented state laws and supply chain vulnerabilities.

For a deeper dive, explore the Stanford Emerging Technology Review's DC policy briefing, the Hopkins symposium on sustaining AI growth, and the New Lines Institute policy blueprint for tech supremacy.

This year's Hill and Valley Forum 2025 in Washington, DC, served as a pivotal gathering for America's top tech executives and lawmakers to champion skilled immigration reform as essential to sustaining U.S. innovation and economic growth.

Leaders including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google President Ruth Porat, and Palantir CEO Alex Karp joined Senators Joni Ernst and Todd Young to spotlight the nation's acute STEM talent shortage, with forum discussions often returning to the need for modernizing outdated H-1B visa guidelines and clearing green card backlogs.

As reported at Politico's Digital Future Daily coverage, proposals floated at the event included a “nerd card” program for high-skilled entrants and automatic green cards for STEM graduates - reflecting data that nearly half of venture-funded U.S. startups are immigrant-founded and 80% of Silicon Valley employers cite immigration restrictions as a growth constraint according to analysis from Sam Liccardo.

Meanwhile, advocates underlined the economic impact:

“Immigrants also expand the tax base and innovation and create jobs all across the country,” noted TechNet CEO Linda Moore, emphasizing the urgency for action in Congress.

“America is just not graduating enough high-skilled workers to fill the shortage in the American economy.” - Linda Moore, TechNet CEO

Statistic	Value
Foreign-born U.S. Startup Founders	~50%
U.S. Unfilled Jobs	8.2 million
H-1B Visa Lottery Success Rate (FY 2024)	14.6%

Lawmakers face mounting pressure to align with proposals such as increases to visa caps, backlog relief, and the passage of a “startup visa” to keep global talent in the U.S. - reforms explored in depth by national tech advocacy groups urging Congress to act before America's innovation edge slips away.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang issued a stark warning in Washington, D.C. this week, declaring that the United States and China are “neck-and-neck” in the global race for artificial intelligence, with China “right behind” the U.S. in both AI development and chip technology.

As policymakers debate tightening AI chip export restrictions, Huang emphasized the formidable advances of Huawei, describing it as “one of the most formidable technology companies in the world” and praising its progress in computing, networking, and software capabilities.

U.S. export controls, including the imminent “AI Diffusion Rule,” threaten to cut Nvidia off from critical Chinese markets - a move projected to cost the company $5.5 billion.

Industry analysts and Nvidia alike warn that such restrictions could undermine America's tech leadership, especially as China boasts roughly half the world's AI researchers.

Huang called for policies that “accelerate the diffusion of American AI technology” and support domestic innovation, urging that “this is an industry that we will have to compete for.” The complex technology and regulatory battle is captured in Nvidia's ongoing push to expand onshore manufacturing and billion-dollar U.S. AI infrastructure investments, while industry voices debate the national security merits of export controls.

For a detailed account of Huang's remarks and the evolving U.S.-China AI rivalry, see CNBC's in-depth coverage of Nvidia's Capitol Hill testimony, comprehensive analysis from CNBC on growing Chinese AI competition, and Business Insider's interview with Jensen Huang.

Additional policy perspectives and export restriction debates can be found in this CNBC report on U.S. AI chip policy clashes.

As Congressional scrutiny intensifies on the use of copyrighted content by AI companies, publishers have launched a “Support Responsible AI” campaign, backed by high-stakes lawsuits and a push for better licensing practices.

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) filed a significant amicus brief against Meta, alleging that the company illegally sourced millions of DRM-free books from pirate sites to train its “LLaMA” model, undermining incentives for writers and diminishing viable markets for licensed training data - estimated at $2.5 billion today and projected to reach $30 billion in the next decade.

While American courts struggle to define fair use for AI training, publishers are pursuing both legal action and cooperative licensing deals: news outlets like The Guardian and Vox Media have sued or signed deals with AI giants, and a current legal wave includes not only U.S. lawsuits but also international actions in India and Canada, according to a comprehensive publisher-AI lawsuit and deal tracker.

However, as ongoing analysis by the Center for European Policy Analysis notes, definitive regulation remains elusive, industry initiatives are bridging gaps for now, and unresolved copyright issues could shape who benefits from the AI revolution.

“Meta's copying and encoding of protected creative works word-by-word into a large language model is not a transformative fair use, but rather exceeds legal purposes,”

warned Maria A. Pallante, President & CEO of the AAP, highlighting the case's impact on copyright's future and fair compensation for creators.

AdvaMed's release of the AI Policy Roadmap marks a pivotal effort to modernize federal regulation as artificial intelligence reshapes medical technology in Washington, DC and nationwide.

With over 1,000 FDA-authorized AI-enabled medical devices currently approved - ranging from digital imaging tools for prostate cancer to cuffless blood pressure monitors and insertable cardiac devices - policymakers are now urged to ensure patient privacy, streamline reimbursement, and reinforce the FDA's pivotal regulatory role.

AdvaMed's recommendations align with Congressional momentum: the bipartisan House AI Task Force and the Senate AI Caucus have both hosted sessions on advancing payment pathways for AI-powered devices.

According to Dr. Taha Kass-Hout, chair of AdvaMed's Digital Health Tech division board, “Recent breakthroughs in machine learning and AI are already transforming health care - streamlining administrative workflows, minimizing scan times, monitoring patient health both in and out of clinical settings, and significantly reducing wait times.

This is just the beginning.”

“The policy environment absolutely must keep up. This is the right time to promote the development of AI-enabled medtech to its fullest potential to serve all patients, regardless of zip code or circumstance,” said Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed president and CEO.

Below is a summary table of key roadmap highlights:

Policy Focus	Details
Regulatory Progress	1,000+ FDA-authorized AI medical devices in 25 years
Policy Recommendations	Protect patient privacy, maintain FDA oversight, update reimbursement options
Coverage & Access	Push for formalized payment pathways with CMS to expand access

For a deeper dive on the roadmap, download it directly from AdvaMed's official resource center, and see the full context in their Medical Innovation Agenda for the 119th Congress.

The White House is calling on the public - including researchers, industry leaders, and everyday Americans - to help shape the nation's future in artificial intelligence by contributing ideas for the 2025 National AI Research and Development Strategic Plan.

Through a new Request for Information published in the Federal Register, input is sought on how federal priorities should evolve to secure U.S. leadership, foster innovation, and enhance both economic and national security.

The deadline for submitting comments is May 29, 2025, and public feedback will directly inform the strategic role federal investment plays in areas like fundamental AI research, resilient infrastructure, workforce development, and national security where the private sector may not invest on its own.

As the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) reviews over 10,000 public comments already received from a prior action plan phase, recurring themes include regulatory consistency, energy infrastructure, and the rapid global AI race.

In the words of OSTP Director Michael Kratsios,

“America is, and must remain, the global leader in AI technology. The huge volume of public comments we received reflects the deep interest Americans have in the future of AI and highlights the critical importance of the Trump Administration's AI Action Plan for advancing this generation's defining emerging technology.”

According to an in-depth report on the plan's update, the upcoming strategy will emphasize fairness, accountability, and responsible innovation, with a focus on public-private partnership and transparent governance.

For a detailed timeline and submission details, visit FedScoop's coverage of the strategic plan's revision process and be sure to make your voice heard before the May deadline.

As Congress sharpened its focus this month on powering the AI revolution, hearings in Washington, DC brought together lawmakers, technologists, and energy industry leaders to weigh the escalating electricity needs of America's booming AI sector.

In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, experts highlighted projections that data centers could consume up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028 and require a staggering 67 GW of additional generating capacity by 2030 - equivalent to dozens of new nuclear reactors.

“We have to have energy in all forms, renewable and non-renewable... We don't have a choice,” testified Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, emphasizing the urgency of grid modernization and permitting reforms to keep pace with global competitors like China.

The demand for reliable, affordable energy is felt acutely by U.S. semiconductor manufacturers; as Micron's Manish Bhatia noted, each new chip fab can draw 400 MW, with energy reliability now a make-or-break factor for domestic tech investment.

The Committee also debated the balance between innovation, consumer privacy, and national security, underscoring the need for both robust infrastructure and smart regulation.

A key takeaway: building out advanced semiconductors, modernizing energy transmission, and maintaining supportive tax credits are now central to economic and national security strategy.

As Matt Schruers of the Computer & Communications Industry Association put it, “Success in this global competition to lead on AI innovation requires this infrastructure and directly impacts both the U.S. economy and national security.” For more on the House hearing's agenda and key witness insights, see the Tech Policy Press hearing transcript on AI and energy, the Broadband Breakfast event preview on AI infrastructure and U.S. competitiveness, and the CCIA's statement on U.S. competitiveness in the global AI race.

Key Projections	Figure	Source
Current Data Center Electricity Use	4.4% of US total (2023)	DOE
Projected by 2028	6.7%–12% of US total	DOE, Eric Schmidt
Additional Power Needed by 2030	67 GW	Eric Schmidt testimony
Micron Total Fab Demand (2040)	2 GW	Micron testimony

“AI gives us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the world in innovation and growth. To realize this potential, the U.S. must build the right foundation - from power and chips to computing capacity - while also ensuring consumer protections remain strong.” - Rep. Brett Guthrie

Washington, DC is gearing up to host the AI+ Expo 2025 from June 2–4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, marking the city's emergence as a global hub for artificial intelligence and national security conversation.

Organized by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), this anticipated event is set to draw more than 15,000 attendees - including leaders from government, the private sector, and academia - for a comprehensive exploration of AI's impact on defense, biotech, energy, and the broader workforce.

Expo highlights include The Exchange forum on innovation and security, a major hackathon, the nation's first-ever Service Member drone competition, and the ai+careers talent marketplace.

This year's lead sponsor, Rhombus Power, along with industry partners like GE Aerospace, Altana, and Strider Technologies, underscores collaboration across sectors.

As Dr. Anshu Roy, CEO of Rhombus Power, emphasized,

“These are Sputnik stakes for modern times, full stop, and SCSP's mission is to provide both the warning shot and the ammunition for a battle of ideas.”

The event reflects a national policy shift, supported by a recent executive order to advance AI education, workforce readiness, and public-private partnerships in tech.

A snapshot of the Expo's expected scale is captured below:

Expo Year	Sponsors	Exhibitors	Speakers	Attendees
2024	29	156	400+	10,000+
2025 (expected)	30+	100+	400+	15,000+

For more on the agenda and registration, visit the official AI+ Expo 2025 events and registration page, learn about SCSP's broader strategic mission at their Special Competitive Studies Project homepage, and see the full policy context in the White House's executive order for advancing artificial intelligence education and workforce readiness.

Silicon Valley's influence in Washington, DC, is reaching unprecedented levels, as highlighted by the high-profile Hill and Valley Forum where tech giants and lawmakers mapped America's path to industrial and technological leadership.

The conference gathered executives like Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Oracle's Safra Catz, and Palantir's Alex Karp with members of Congress to discuss AI, China, and national security, underscoring a new consensus: innovation and manufacturing must be restored on U.S. soil.

Speakers emphasized American values in AI development and an “America-first” industrial strategy, with Thrive Capital's Josh Kushner warning,

“The most proficient and efficient artificial intelligence needs to be built with American democratic values. And if it's not, I think the consequences are going to be quite extraordinary for the Western world.”

This year's forum marked a cultural pivot, as CEOs' Meeting With DC Lawmakers Shows Big Tech Influence, transitioning from skepticism to enthusiastic engagement in federal policy, particularly as Silicon Valley leaders rally for stronger postures against China and advocate closely aligned public-private efforts.

However, reports from the event revealed mixed feeling among the tech elite regarding Trump's tariffs, with some founders embracing the volatility as a catalyst for U.S.-centric innovation, while others preferred a “wait-and-see” approach.

Swelling participation at the forum confirms what cofounder Jacob Helberg called “mainstreaming” of what was once tech counterculture, as detailed in analysis of Silicon Valley's iconoclasts at the forum.

The dynamic tension between support for deregulation, AI deployment, and protectionist policies was evident, prompting deep conversations about America's economic future - an alliance now shaping policy at the highest level, noted in coverage of tech leaders grading the administration's first 100 days and the challenges ahead.

This month, Meta is under mounting pressure in Washington, DC as lawmakers and child advocacy groups call for Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action following serious allegations that its virtual reality platform, Horizon Worlds, violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

A coalition led by Senator Ed Markey and Representative Kathy Castor, supported by the nonprofit Fairplay, submitted evidence and a whistleblower statement asserting that Meta knowingly allowed children under 13 to access Horizon Worlds with standard adult accounts, bypassing required parental consent and exposing minors to risks including data collection, harassment, and predation.

Fairplay's nine-month investigation found that at least 33% of users encountered on the platform were children under 13, despite Meta's supervised accounts for ages 10–12 and safety policies.

Notably, a former Meta director swore the company deliberately avoided documenting the presence of child users to sidestep legal obligations. As Business Insider details Meta's internal pressures and whistleblower testimony, Senator Markey and Rep.

Castor emphasize the urgent need for oversight:

“The volume of personal information collected from children in VR - including body movements, facial expressions, voice recordings, eye tracking, and environmental data - renders these allegations especially concerning. Moreover, VR platforms...envelop young users in highly interactive, sensory-rich worlds that can blur the boundary between virtual and physical experiences.”

Meta maintains it is committed to safe, age-appropriate experiences, but lawmakers' calls for investigation and the depth of Fairplay's findings underscore the complex regulatory landscape for children's privacy in immersive technologies.

For a breakdown of the allegations and VR child safety trends, visit Fairplay's complaint summary and supporting research.

Washington, DC is witnessing an escalation in policy debates surrounding skilled immigration, trade, and R&D as the tech race with China intensifies. New federal legislation targeting U.S. AI supply chain resilience and international investment has been introduced, while the Department of Commerce has broadened export controls - restricting advanced AI technologies from reaching Chinese military-linked entities.

High-profile voices, including investors and tech leaders, are urging Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform, emphasizing that immigrants make up 18.6% of America's workforce and over 50% of STEM PhDs in critical fields, warning that mass deportations could shrink U.S. GDP by up to 7.4% by 2028 (investor analysis on immigration reform economic impact).

The skilled worker shortage is further highlighted by estimates of a 1.4 million deficit by 2030; however, outdated visa caps and green card backlogs mean the U.S. risks losing foreign talent to rivals like Canada and the UK. As summarized by the Center for a New American Security,

“Immigrants are integral to America's workforce, culture, and entrepreneurial spirit. Congress must pass comprehensive and just immigration reform to maintain global competitiveness, growth, and sustainability across industries.”

The following table details the projected workforce and economic impacts if current policies persist:

Indicator	Current Value	Impact if Mass Deportations
Immigrant Workforce Share	18.6%	-5% labor force by 2028
GDP	-	1.2–7.4% below baseline
STEM PhDs (Immigrant Share)	50–60%	Loss of top STEM talent

For a comprehensive policy roundup, see the latest April 2025 US Tech Policy Roundup.

Washington, DC's tech scene is navigating a period of unprecedented transformation, with the region now ranked as the #1 Tech Hub in North America, driven by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and infrastructure.

As federal and local priorities shift, the latest April 2025 US Tech Policy Roundup details sweeping changes: bipartisan legislative momentum on AI and data privacy, record-breaking $17.5 million tech industry lobbying, and high-profile antitrust actions against Google and Meta.

The region's innovation environment is marked by rapid job growth and major investments from technology giants and startups, while policy debates over AI regulation, digital assets, and educational preparedness remain fierce.

Highlighting the region's dynamism, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President noted,

“Fairfax County's success in building a world-class economy has been fueled by our strategic transformation from merely a government town to a globally recognized deep tech powerhouse…”

Emerging startups - celebrated by Technical.ly's RealLIST - fuel further excitement.

For those eager to skill up for these opportunities, Nucamp offers affordable, flexible bootcamps in cybersecurity, software development, and data science, with numerous scholarship programs for local learners.

As policymakers, industry leaders, and communities shape the next phase, DC stands ready to lead the future of American tech.

Key Regional Stats (2019-2023)	Value
Total Economic Output	$22.8B
Jobs Added (Region)	73,102
Jobs Added (Fairfax)	41,846
Employee Compensation	$5.8B (Fairfax)

For a deeper dive into Q1's technology legislation and regulatory shifts, see this comprehensive quarter recap.