BPI head testifies China campaigns stalled $23.6 billion in US AI infrastructure
- Sam Lyman testified before Congress on foreign influence targeting US AI buildout
- Research tracked 21 campaigns across 14 states stalling $23.6 billion in investment
- Efforts led to 10 moratoria, one permanent ban, and four scrapped projects
- Three vectors identified: Chinese state media, Singham-funded nonprofits, and PSL
- SDNY grand jury investigating Neville Roy Singham for FARA violations
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Sam Lyman, head of research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, testified before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that China-linked influence campaigns helped stall or block $23.6 billion in proposed U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The testimony, delivered Tuesday to the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, detailed how foreign adversaries utilize nonprofits and state media to shape American public opinion against data center development.
Campaign Impact
Lyman’s research tracked 21 campaigns by the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) across 14 states. These efforts contributed to 10 data center moratoria, one permanent ban, and four rejected or scrapped projects. Collectively, these actions delayed or blocked roughly $23.6 billion in proposed investment.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| States affected | 14 |
| PSL campaigns tracked | 21 |
| Moratoria imposed | 10 |
| Permanent bans | 1 |
| Projects rejected/scrapped | 4 |
| Investment stalled/blocked | $23.6 billion |
Lyman stated that a war for AI supremacy is raging between the world’s two superpowers, with China using state levers including foreign influence operations to compete.
Vectors of Influence
The testimony drew on two reports authored by Lyman for the Bitcoin Policy Institute. The research identified three primary vectors of influence:
- Chinese state media and bot networks pushing content against U.S. data centers to American audiences.
- U.S. nonprofits funded by Shanghai-based Marxist Neville Roy Singham.
- The Party for Socialism and Liberation, a Marxist-Leninist group with leadership drawn from Singham-funded organizations.
Lyman noted that opposition to data centers is not manufactured wholesale, stating that Americans have genuine concerns about the buildout that need to be heard alongside the foreign influence campaign.
Legal Context
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York is investigating whether Singham violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The probe examines allegations of unlawful money funneling through controlled nonprofits and false statements on tax filings. Organizations in the network have denied wrongdoing, stating they receive no funding or direction from the Chinese government.
Lyman is scheduled to speak at Freedom Tech DC 2026, the Bitcoin Policy Institute’s annual summit, in Washington, DC on Sept. 22-23.
How might the ongoing federal investigation into Neville Roy Singham influence the regulatory landscape for foreign-funded nonprofits operating in the U.S.?
What specific legislative measures could Congress propose to protect critical AI infrastructure from foreign interference while addressing legitimate local community concerns?
Could the $23.6 billion in stalled investments lead to a significant shift in global AI development hubs, potentially benefiting competitors like China or the EU?
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