Palantir Hires Former Sen. Jon Tester to Counter Democratic Scrutiny
The software firm retains the Montana Democrat as an advisor as it prepares to face a new congressional majority in January.
By Alyssa Parker ·
Palantir has hired former Sen. Jon Tester to advise the company as it prepares for increased oversight from the incoming Democratic-led Congress.
Tester, who represented Montana for 18 years and lost his reelection bid in 2024, said his role is strictly advisory and does not involve lobbying. The former senator, who also works as an organic farmer, joins the staff of the software and artificial intelligence firm valued at over $350 billion.
The hiring comes as tech executives anticipate a wave of inquiries from Democrats regarding the industry's relationships with the Trump administration. Many firms are retaining former Democratic lawmakers and aides to help explain their operations to the new House and Senate majorities taking office in January.
During the current congressional session, Palantir faced criticism from Democrats who accused the company of aiding mass surveillance of Americans and immigrants. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, along with 30 other Democratic lawmakers, demanded answers about Palantir's contracts with the Department of Homeland Security. Wyden’s office stated that he intends to raise these questions again as chairman of the Finance Committee, noting that compulsory processes are possible if the company is not responsive.
Palantir has consistently denied that it conducts or enables mass surveillance. The company stated it creates tools for government agencies and private firms to organize their own data rather than gathering or manipulating it directly. CEO Alex Karp, a self-described liberal, has been critical of Democrats on issues such as immigration, telling Axios in 2025 that some of his Democratic peers agree with his restrictive views in private.
Tester, who was an outspoken critic of the PATRIOT Act during his time in the Senate, argued that Palantir differs from traditional surveillance entities. He said the company does not build large databases or trade in private data. Tester described the firm as an organization that believes in privacy and is committed to upholding liberal democratic values.
The company holds $2 billion in federal contracts, with the largest shares awarded by the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and State. Palantir also works with the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services. In 2025, more than a dozen former employees criticized the firm for a $30 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to create a tool for tracking migrant movement, arguing it violated the company's code of conduct.
Tester said he will focus on the government services side of Palantir's business. He described the recent midterm election results as a blue tidal wave and expressed hope that the new Congress will pursue different policy approaches than the previous two years.
