Bernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have introduced a federal bill calling for a moratorium on the construction of new AI data centers across the United States. Announced on Wednesday morning, the proposed policy seeks to provide the US government with crucial time to develop robust federal safeguards for artificial intelligence, an area lawmakers believe is rapidly evolving without adequate oversight. Sanders emphasized the unprecedented scale and speed of the AI and robotics revolution, stating that Congress is currently ill-equipped to understand its full impacts on the economy, society, and warfare. The introduction of this bill signifies a shift, moving the call for a halt to AI data center expansion from a fringe idea to a mainstream legislative effort. It follows a trend observed since August 2025, where numerous towns and counties in states like Missouri, Indiana, Georgia, and North Carolina have already enacted temporary bans on data center development. Additionally, at least 11 states are currently considering similar policies, as tracked by the watchdog group Good Jobs First. Environmental and advocacy groups, including over 200 led by Food and Water Watch, have actively campaigned for such a federal moratorium, citing significant concerns over data centers' impact on electricity bills and contributions to the climate crisis. Sanders was the first lawmaker to publicly endorse this demand, subsequently gaining support from other progressive lawmakers such as Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). Public opinion polls indicate growing concern among Americans regarding AI's societal effects, utility cost increases, and energy consumption linked to data centers, particularly their vast water demands for cooling in drought-prone regions. Mitch Jones, managing director of policy and litigation at Food and Water Watch, lauded the new proposal, stressing the urgent need for a pause due to the industry's aggressive growth catching political and community leaders unprepared. He questioned the industry's ability to operate safely without sufficient protection for people and society from inherent hazards. The Trump administration previously hosted tech executives to pledge protection against utility rate hikes, though critics deemed these pledges unenforceable and public skepticism remains high.