(DCNF)—Lawmakers have introduced several pieces of legislation to restrict Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers as more Americans have voiced their opposition to the construction projects in their communities, but many of the bills have continued to languish in Congress.
Some members of Congress have sought to channel the anti-data center sentiment sweeping across local communities by introducing legislation to resist more construction projects. These pieces of legislation have not advanced beyond the introduction stage, largely because Republicans are split on the issue and have been unable to advance bills from the markup stage, particularly as tech giants like Google and Meta have lobbied heavily against moratoriums, off-grid mandates and other measures.
Meta launched a pro-AI super PAC effort that was expected to spend around $65 million for the midterms, according to Axios. Another PAC called Leading the Future raised $50 million. Meta also gave $45 million to a federally registered nonprofit, American Technology Excellence Project, to back candidates who “advocate for AI progress,” according to The Washington Post. Google has contributed millions to midterm candidates, including a $5 million donation to the California Leads committee, which supports pro-AI candidates, the Post reported.
Republican House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky said he was unsure that federal legislation was necessary, according to E & E. Republican Ohio Rep. Bob Latta, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, said his panel had no plans regarding data centers.
The House Judiciary Committee failed to pass the “Protect American AI Act,” which would limit litigation against data centers’ environmental reviews. Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie said he planned to vote against the bill “because no industry deserves special treatment under the law.” The bill was pulled from consideration in the committee.
A pro-AI political operation called Innovation Council Action planned to spend $100 million on the 2026 midterm elections, according to Axios. The group is led by Taylor Budowich, a former Trump White House deputy chief of staff who previously led the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. super PAC and Securing American Greatness political operations.
Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Rob Bresnahan introduced legislation called “The Local Control Protection Act,” which would restrict companies’ abilities to sue municipalities for rejecting applications to build data centers.
“We should never let billion-dollar corporations supersede the voices of those who live in the community,” Bresnahan said, according to Axios. “The people who live here, work here, and raise their families here are the ones who know what’s best for our communities.”
Bresnahan is up for reelection in November and will face Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti.
Republican Tennessee Rep. Matt Van Epps introduced The Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act Thursday, which could arm companies that own data centers. The proposed legislation was in response to key investors warning about domestic terrorism targeting AI data centers, while critics point out that data centers may be doing more harm than good.
The bill would allow the private ownership of anti-drone technologies, including directed-energy systems, projectile-based systems (guns) and net-capture systems, among other weapons platforms.
In March 2025, independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation to place a moratorium on new AI data center construction until safeguards addressed AI risks, energy use and public impacts. Democratic New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver also introduced the AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act of 2026 in April, which would require developers to disclose proposed AI data sites at least 180 days in advance to prevent “surprise” developments.
President Donald Trump introduced Project Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure network soon after he returned to the White House in January 2025. The venture was backed by Big Tech CEOs and major tech giants, including OpenAI. Trump signed an executive order on June 2 that asked tech companies to voluntarily give the government oversight of new AI models before releasing them to the public, though Big Tech reportedly pressured it to be delayed and watered down.
Lawmakers also introduced legislation to ensure these data centers use off-grid power sources. Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal introduced the Guaranteeing Rate Insulation from Data Centers (GRID) Act, which requires new data centers to use off-grid power sources and mandates existing ones to transition within ten years.
This legislation would guarantee no increase in consumer utility prices, ensure new data centers use energy from power generation sources that are separate from the grid, with a ten-year off-ramp for existing data centers to find an alternative power source, according to Blumenthal’s press release. It would also establish new transparency measures so that data center operators publicly disclosed their current and future utility usage and other related information.
Mid-sized data centers can consume as much water as a small town, according to the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Larger facilities may require up to 5 million gallons of water per day.
In January, Democratic Florida Reps. Mike Levin and Kathy Castor put forth the Stopping Hikes In Electricity from Large Load Demands (SHIELD) Act, which would ensure that massive electricity users bear the costs of grid infrastructure they require, while incentivizing large energy consumption facilities to power their operations with zero-emission electricity.
“Families should not be forced to subsidize massive energy costs for billion-dollar companies” Levin said. “As we advance the future of artificial intelligence and data centers , we need to ensure that there are clear rules that protect consumers from higher bills and protect our climate from higher emissions. The SHIELD Act makes sure large energy users pay their fair share for grid upgrades and incentivizes them to power their operations with clean, zero-emission electricity, without leaving consumers footing the bill.”
Trump signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge in March to ensure the construction of data centers does not raise residents’ electricity costs.
Democratic Ohio Rep. Greg Landsman also introduced the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act in December 2025 to protect residential and small commercial customers from AI data center-related cost increases. Democratic New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman introduced a bill in March that would authorize a Department of Energy study on the environmental, economic and public health impacts of data centers.
Many Americans have cited concerns about AI data centers and voted to restrict them in their communities.
A Financial Times survey from June 4 found that 26% of Americans supported increased construction of data centers, which is the lowest in comparison to other major countries like Germany and Great Britain. More than 350,000 people signed a petition opposing a proposed data center bordering the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee, Axios reported. Residents in Seattle, Washington, move to ban new large data centers for a year.
Monterey Park, California, residents voted in favor of a permanent ban on data centers, marking the first such ban nationwide, SF Gate reported. Voters in Festus, Missouri, also ousted four members of their city council in April who supported a $6 billion data center project, while voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, backed a measure to crack down on data centers.
Speaker Mike Johnson backed a bipartisan deliberation draft put forth by Republican California Rep. Jay Obernolte and Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Lori Trahan called the Great American AI Act, which would regulate AI by establishing transparency and auditing requirements and mandating improved federal data collection on AI’s labor market impacts.
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