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Public First Action

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Public First Action is a US advocacy organization that describes itself as a bipartisan section 501(c)(4) focused on public education and AI safeguards. It is distinct from the separately registered Public First super PAC.[1][2]

Organization type: Section 501(c)(4), according to its institutional description.[1]
Policy geography: United States, including federal and state policy.[1]
Separate committee: Public First super PAC, FEC C00930503.[2]
Official site: publicfirstaction.us
Last source review: September 12, 2026

Policy agenda

Public First Action supports state and local work on emerging AI issues and opposes federal efforts to displace state protections without adequate federal safeguards. Its preemption position is conditional on federal safeguards.[1]

Anthropic's February 2026 support announcement describes the organization as seeking cooperation across party lines around transparency, a federal governance framework and safeguards. It connects those objectives with US technological leadership and job growth. That account records the donor's stated reasons for supporting the organization; it does not establish that the donor controls every subsequent position or activity.[3]

Candidate questionnaire

The organization's six-page policy questionnaire makes its agenda more concrete. It asks candidates about state authority, export controls, developer transparency, whistleblower protection, independent testing and security obligations. It also asks about children's interactions with chatbots, catastrophic risks, workforce effects and specific legislation candidates would support or introduce.[4]

The questionnaire's proposed export-control measures include chip-location verification, anti-smuggling enforcement and penalties. Its testing question contemplates verification by a government agency or qualified outside assessor. Its whistleblower question reaches credible safety concerns even where the reported conduct is not already illegal. These are proposed subjects for public commitments, not statements of enacted federal requirements.[4]

The document mixes graded agreement questions with open-ended responses and requests links to public statements. It can establish what Public First Action asks candidates to address. An uncompleted questionnaire does not establish a candidate's answer, endorsement or receipt of financial support.[4]

Axios reported that Public First Action wanted AI policy to become a routine campaign issue.[5]

Disclosed Anthropic support

On February 12, 2026, Anthropic announced a $20 million contribution for Public First Action's public education and safeguards agenda. The statement argues for policy engagement as AI capabilities and uses expand and specifically identifies support for a strong federal framework without simply eliminating state protections.[3]

On July 21, Anthropic announced another $20 million, bringing its stated total support to $40 million. It says both donations are restricted to public education and policy and cannot be used to influence candidate elections. These are announced donor contributions and restrictions, not FEC receipts for a super PAC or an audited account of Public First Action's spending.[6]

Distinct organizations and records

Public First Action links separately to Public First, Jobs and Democracy and Defending Our Values PACs; the links do not establish legal control. The FEC identifies Public First as C00930503.[1][2]

For electoral receipts and spending of that committee, see Public First (political action committee). For Anthropic's own policy and governance work, see Anthropic. Historical coverage appears in the July 9 and July 22, 2026 digests. The date of news coverage should be distinguished from the July 21 date displayed on the company's second donation announcement.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Public First Action, Official Website. Accessed September 12, 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 FEC, Public First, C00930503. Accessed September 12, 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Anthropic, Donating $20 Million to Public First Action, February 12, 2026. Accessed September 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Public First Action, Artificial Intelligence Policy Candidate Questionnaire, available in 2026. Accessed September 12, 2026.
  5. ↑ Maria Curi, Super PACs Hunt for the Ideal AI Candidate, Axios, February 13, 2026. Accessed September 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Anthropic, Donating Another $20 Million to Public First Action, July 21, 2026. Accessed September 12, 2026.
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