Sen. Warner: No Blank Checks for Defense Spending

Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Bloomberg TV and Radio to discuss critical issues including defense funding, national security nominations, and the regulation of artificial intelligence. Warner expressed a 'no' vote on a supplemental budget request for ongoing military operations, citing approximately $85 billion in unspent funds within the Department of Defense.

Defense Funding and "War of Choice"

Warner questioned the rationale behind the significant funding request, stating, "The defense department still has roughly $85 billion of unspent money." He acknowledged the need to replenish munitions stocks but argued that this could be addressed with existing appropriated funds. The Senator was critical of the current conflict, describing it as a "war of choice" initiated without a clear plan, and questioned the administration's stated goals, including regime change and preventing uranium enrichment.

He further elaborated on the economic implications, noting that with gas prices rising, the current strategy was not proving effective. Warner also expressed concern about the potential for defense spending increases to come at the expense of domestic programs. "I'm supposed to then almost double the defense budget when we're taking healthcare away so dramatically. This is not the way things ought to operate," he stated.

The full discussion can be found on Bloomberg Podcast's YouTube channel.

Nomination Concerns and National Security

The conversation shifted to the President's nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI). While Warner stated he knows and respects the nominee, Jay Clayton, from his time as head of the SEC, he expressed deep disappointment with Clayton's performance before the committee. "I was bitterly disappointed when he came before the committee and couldn't even say who was the lucky president in 2020," Warner remarked, referencing Clayton's apparent lack of familiarity with key election-related intelligence. He also criticized the nominee's perceived lack of awareness regarding certain intelligence matters, stating, "I can't in good conscience say you've earned my vote."

Warner contrasted Clayton with the acting director, Bill Polian, calling him "a disaster" with no national security background, whose primary qualification seemed to be his willingness to "politically weaponize" private mortgage information. He questioned the implications of such an individual overseeing intelligence agencies.

AI Regulation and Job Market Impact

Addressing the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, Warner highlighted his state's role as home to "Data Center Alley" and his commitment to regulating AI development. He voiced both optimism about AI's potential benefits and concern about its downsides. "If we don't move quickly, all of the innovation could be squashed because of frankly fear from the American people from both the left and the right," Warner said, emphasizing the need for proactive, bipartisan action.

Warner proposed federal standards for data centers concerning power and water usage, setbacks from communities, and backup power. He also called for rules on AI's influence, particularly on children, citing examples like chatbots encouraging suicide and the creation of non-consensual nudes. He suggested the government should not purchase systems that enable such harmful applications.

Looking ahead, Warner predicted significant disruption to the job market due to AI, noting that it would likely affect college graduates more than lower-skilled workers. "I think we could hit 30% recent college graduate unemployment in the next two years," he predicted, stressing the need for substantial societal adjustments and new approaches, such as retraining business majors for healthcare roles.