"Our corrupt, AI-addicted President cannot be allowed to sacrifice our federal lands" : A bill to permanently ban AI data centers from federal lands has been introduced to Congress

Date:
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:35:00 +0000

Description:
The Trump administration is pushing forward with a huge data center buildout while sidelining environmental concerns and worsening pollution.

FULL STORY
A bill that would see data centers banned from being built on US
federal lands has been introduced to Congress by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

The No AI Data Centers on Federal Lands Act would also see existing AI data centers removed from federal land, and the sites decontaminated to protect
the local environment and water systems. Everywhere I go in our district, our residents tell me loud and clear, data centers are not welcome in our communities. AI data centers bring noise, light, air, and water pollution,
and can increase energy costs by as much as 267%, said Rep. Tlaib, co-founder of the Peoples Environmental Justice Caucus.

AI at any cost -- As part of the Trump administrations
plans to remain a world leader in AI technology, the Department of Defense
has requested $30 billion in funding to build secure AI data centers as part of the Pentagons AI Arsenal initiative. This initiative is part of a move to equip the US military with AI systems to be integrated into battle management and warfare operations, threat detection and analysis, and supply chain logistics.

These military data centers could also be built without being subject to the Clean Air Act , meaning construction of the sites would be allowed to go
ahead without any consideration for health risks to local populations.

The Department of Energy is also looking to build 16 new data centers under guidance from the Trump administration . The DoE data centers would be provided with fast-track approval for energy generation. Many new data
centers are turning to polluting gas-burning turbine generators that produce noise levels similar to international airports, and cause sickness in local populations.

Our residents are choking on smog and already paying too much for their utility bills, yet the Trump administration wants to place heavier cost burdens on the shoulders of hardworking Americans, Rep. Tlaib says.

"Our corrupt, AI-addicted President cannot be allowed to sacrifice our federal lands so that Big Tech oligarchs can get richer. I will continue to push back against harmful AI data centers alongside our residents to protect our public lands, health, and environment."

While the Trump administration willingly serves up our environment on a platter to Big Tech and their data centers, Rep. Tlaibs proposed legislation is drawing a line in the sand, said Camden Weber, senior climate and energy policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Public lands belong to the people, not to Big Techs bottom line. This bill is a necessary step toward holding the industry accountable and protecting the air, water and places all species depend on.

Link to news story:

https://www.techradar.com/pro/our-corrupt-ai-addicted-president-cannot-be-allo wed-to-sacrifice-our-federal-lands-a-bill-to-permanently-ban-ai-data-centers-f rom-federal-lands-has-been-introduced-to-congress

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* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (1:2320/107)