Senators Urge Congress to Act as AI-Linked Layoffs Surge

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders urged Congress to act after employers tied 38,579 U.S. layoffs in May and 87,714 year-to-date to automation. May was the highest month on record for AI-linked cuts and the year-to-date total already exceeds the 54,836 linked to automation in all of 2025.

Warren urged immediate protections for workers and wrote on social media, “We can’t wait a few more years to see how many people get laid off, how many lives get turned upside down.” Sanders blamed industry political spending and wrote, “Is Congress doing anything to help the millions of workers who could lose their jobs to AI and robotics? No. They’re intimidated by the hundreds of millions the AI industry is pouring into super PACs. We must ban super PACs and crack down on corruption.”

Bank leaders have warned of job losses as AI tools are deployed. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned AI will eliminate jobs, and Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser cautioned that some roles will become unnecessary. Financial firms are cutting incoming junior analyst classes by as much as two-thirds, and one international bank plans to eliminate more than 15% of corporate function roles by 2030 as automation expands.

Customer service and other back-office functions have been cited by employers when announcing reductions tied to automation. Analysts and corporate leaders point to faster deployment of generative AI and workflow automation as factors driving the rise in reported cuts.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley noted survey data showing nearly one in five U.S. workers expect AI or automation could cost them their jobs and wrote that those fears should be taken seriously rather than dismissed with promises of long-term gains.

Not all experts predict permanent large-scale job losses. Andreessen Horowitz partner David George rejected the idea of an AI-driven employment apocalypse. Economist Tyler Cowen argued AI productivity gains could allow small teams to start more companies, projects and nonprofits, creating new roles over time.

Lawmakers are weighing policy options including retraining funds, wage supports, unemployment protections tied to automation disclosures and limits on political spending. Proposals are expected to face debate over costs, timing and whether regulations would affect the pace of technology adoption.

The debate continues as companies integrate AI into workflows and reported AI-linked layoffs accelerate.