Palantir hires former Montana senator to prepare for congressional oversight
The software firm, valued at over $350 billion, brings in a privacy advocate as Democrats regain control of Congress in January.
By Nia Foster ·
Palantir has hired former Senator Jon Tester to serve in an advisory role as the company prepares for increased scrutiny from the incoming Democratic Congress.
Tester, who represented Montana for 18 years and lost his seat in the 2024 election, described his new position as strictly advisory rather than lobbying work. He told NPR that he believes the company has a narrative to share with lawmakers and hopes they will listen.
The hiring move comes as tech firms anticipate a wave of oversight from Democrats who will take over the House and Senate in January. Many industry leaders are recruiting former Democratic officials to help communicate their positions to the new legislative majority.
Palantir, an American software and artificial intelligence firm, has faced criticism from members of Congress regarding its ties to the Trump administration. The company, named by founder Peter Theil after a mythical object from J.R.R. Tolkien's work, has been accused of aiding mass surveillance of Americans and immigrants.
The company maintains that it does not collect or manipulate data itself. Instead, it builds tools that allow government agencies and private companies to organize their own existing information. Palantir states it is committed to protecting privacy and upholding liberal democratic values.
In the first half of 2026, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and 30 other Democratic lawmakers requested answers about Palantir's contracts with the Department of Homeland Security. They questioned whether the firm's software contributed to federal surveillance efforts. Palantir responded by stating it was neither conducting nor enabling mass surveillance, but Wyden's office indicated he remained unsatisfied with the answer.
Wyden's staff told NPR that the senator plans to ask these questions again when he assumes the role of Finance Committee chairman. His team noted that compulsory processes would be considered if Palantir does not respond adequately next year.
Aya Ibrahim, a senior fellow at the AI Now Institute and former State Department official, suggested the hiring reflects a strategy to use financial resources to manage public perception. She stated that companies often deploy significant funds to stave off accountability measures.
Tester, who previously criticized the PATRIOT Act for expanding surveillance powers, said he views Palantir differently from traditional government agencies. He argued that the company does not build large databases or trade in private data, aligning with his own privacy concerns.
The company's CEO, Alex Karp, has been vocal in supporting restrictive immigration policies during the current administration. In a 2025 interview, Karp urged his Democratic friends to support such measures, claiming they agreed with him in private settings.
Last year, more than a dozen former employees criticized Palantir for a $30 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The contract involved creating a tool to track migrant movements in near real-time. The former staff argued the work violated the company's internal code of conduct.
Government records show Palantir currently holds $2 billion in federal contracts. The majority of this funding comes from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and State. The firm also holds contracts with the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services. Tester said he will focus on the government services aspect of the business as he begins his new role.
