A new D.C.-based political operation is gearing up to pour at least $100 million into the 2026 midterms in a bid to hardwire President Trump's artificial intelligence agenda into Congress. The outfit, called Innovation Council Action, is led by former White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich and is backed by David Sacks, the administration's outgoing AI and crypto adviser. Organizers say they will lean on scorecards, targeted messaging and eventually a super PAC to reward allies and punish critics on AI policy.
Who is behind the push
Taylor Budowich, best known for running MAGA Inc. and other pro-Trump political arms, is the group's chief. As reported by Axios, Innovation Council Action has opened a D.C. office and has been quietly raising money since late last year. The nonprofit structure lets it operate outside standard public donor-reporting rules, leaving both allies and opponents guessing who is actually bankrolling the effort.
How big is the bet
Innovation Council Action told reporters it plans to spend at least $100 million this year and filed incorporation paperwork in Utah last year, according to The New York Times. The Times reports the group expects to spin up a traditional super PAC as part of that push and will use questionnaires to score members of Congress on how closely they line up with the administration's AI priorities.
Legal and political stakes
Because the organization is set up as a nonprofit, it is not required to publicly name its donors, a structure often described as "dark money" in campaign finance debates. Federal rules still require disclosure of independent expenditures and other election spending, but those filings can list the nonprofit itself as the spender without revealing the underlying donors, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Silicon Valley ties
The effort is also a fresh bridge between the White House and tech power brokers. David Sacks, who until recently served as the administration's AI and crypto adviser, praised the new operation, telling Axios, "Innovation Council will play a critical role in advancing the innovation agenda championed by President Trump and this administration." The New York Times reports the project grew out of conversations between Sacks and Budowich last summer.
What to watch
Keep an eye on whether organizers convert the nonprofit's fundraising muscle into a full-fledged super PAC and whether public filings later this year show where the money eventually lands. The group's moves will test how much influence tech-aligned cash can wield over congressional votes on issues like federal preemption and data center policy as campaign season heats up.
