Report: Several NDA's tied to Louisiana data center
Governor Jeff Landry's administration in Louisiana is using extensive non-disclosure agreements, including one personally signed with Meta for a $50 billion data center project in Richland Parish. This practice is raising concerns among citizens and a legal expert about government transparency, public input, and the legality of public officials signing such agreements, particularly regarding taxpayer dollars and environmental impacts.
A report by Drew Hall revealed that Governor Jeff Landry's administration in Louisiana has implemented widespread non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to attract major data center projects, notably with Meta. The investigation found that at least 121 employees within the governor's office signed confidentiality agreements. Furthermore, Governor Landry himself reportedly signed an NDA with Meta concerning a planned $50 billion data center in Richland Parish, limiting his ability to disclose information about the project without the company's approval.
Attorney William Most questioned the legality of public officials using NDAs to restrict speech, citing potential conflicts with the First Amendment and state law. Citizens are concerned that these agreements could conceal crucial information related to taxpayer dollars and environmental impacts until after projects are announced, effectively eliminating opportunities for public input. Employees violating these NDAs could face termination, lawsuits, or consequences even after leaving state service. Winston Re-reporting for WWL Louisiana highlighted that similar NDAs are prevalent in Virginia communities with data center projects.