Jul 23, 2025 3 min read

Last week, I witnessed a powerful display of forward-thinking leadership as Sen. David McCormick and President Donald J. Trump convened a landmark artificial intelligence and Energy Summit in Pittsburgh – a city once defined by steel, now poised to lead the next industrial revolution.

At the heart of this summit came a thunderous announcement: $90 billion in new private and public sector investments to supercharge America’s edge in AI and secure our energy independence for generations to come. It’s a defining moment and deserving of national recognition.

McCormick, a West Point graduate and former tech executive, has long championed bridging the gap between Silicon Valley innovation and Main Street American values. His stewardship in the Senate has brought a clear-eyed, strategic approach to the challenges posed by AI – from national security to job creation. His decision to anchor this summit in Pittsburgh – home to Carnegie Mellon University and some of the nation’s leading AI research – shows his commitment to elevating American talent and revitalizing post-industrial regions.

Trump, meanwhile, brought to the summit his trademark clarity of purpose: America must lead. Under his presidency, energy dominance was not just a slogan but a strategy, and now with AI surging to the forefront of global competition, Trump’s support for bold investment reflects an understanding that this technological race is existential. His message in Pittsburgh was unmistakable: we will not outsource our future.

The $90 billion package announced during the summit is as sweeping as it is strategic. It includes major federal and private investment into AI research hubs across the Rust Belt, tax incentives for energy innovation, and funding for retraining workers in automation-heavy industries. From autonomous manufacturing to clean energy deployment, this summit outlined a vision where AI and energy policy don’t just coexist – they reinforce one another.

More importantly, this was a bipartisan moment of optimism in a political season too often defined by gridlock and grievance. By bringing together industry leaders, university researchers, energy innovators, and policymakers, McCormick and Trump reminded the country that pragmatic, visionary leadership can still break through.

We should applaud this initiative not just for the dollars committed, but for the signal it sends: America is ready to lead, and Pittsburgh is back at the center of that charge. In a moment when our global competitors are racing ahead, America has chosen to respond not with fear, but with innovation and strength. That’s the legacy of American leadership, and it just got a $90 billion downpayment.

Electra Janis

Vice Chair

Washington County Board of Commissioners