Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft draw Warren questions about AI tax breaks

Senate Democrats are seeking information on how artificial intelligence and data center spending by Meta, Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft has been subsidized by tax breaks authorized in the 2025 tax cutting and spending package passed by Republicans at the behest of President Donald Trump.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., led the letters, which were sent Sunday night and shared exclusively with CNBC, to the CEOs of the four companies asking for information on tax deductions they’ve claimed related to AI and data center development and on their lobbying efforts in the lead-up to the passage of the 2025 legislation, known more commonly as the “one big beautiful bill” act.

Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., joined the letters.

“Americans across the country are worried about the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on their lives —from increased utility bills to threats of job losses and cyberattacks,” the lawmakers wrote in the letters. “But rather than meaningfully regulate Big Tech companies and slow down the mad rush to deploy this new technology, Republicans in Washington have passed tax subsidies for AI development and AI data centers.”

Spokespeople for all four companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The probe comes as Washington grapples with how to deal with AI and data center development, as public backlash has become increasingly intense heading into the 2026 midterm election.

Democrats are hoping to win back a majority in the House and Senate — though Republicans are still favored in most projections to retain the upper chamber — and have tried to distinguish themselves as the more pro-regulation party.

Democratic 2028 presidential hopefuls like California Gov. Gavin Newsom have made statements and issued executive orders. And Democratic congressional candidates — including state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Texas, and Sherrod Brown, the Democrat running for Senate in Ohio — have hit at their GOP opponents for their past support of data centers.

Republicans, meanwhile, have called out Senate Democrats for blocking the quick passage of legislation that would create a framework states could choose to adopt to address rising data center-related utility costs. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., blocked the legislation because he said it didn’t go far enough to protect consumers. The measure, dubbed the Ratepayer Protection Act, may be taken up by the Senate again this week.

Warren has previously called for increased taxes on AI and data center developers and investigated ties between private equity and data centers.

Her letter on Monday follows reporting that corporate tax payments are falling this year amid…