Donald Trump’s push for data centers has split Congress, and the fight is playing out across party lines as local anger over water, electricity and development grows. Some lawmakers want tighter controls. Others want AI leadership against China. And the president is doubling down.
This week, Trump rejected calls to slow data center development, warning that communities blocking the facilities would “end up being backwards and poor.” But the president’s own party is not united behind him. Several Republican lawmakers are pushing back against the tech vision that has defined his administration’s approach to technology.
Ansari’s Warning From Arizona
Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., told Fox News Digital last month that her state needs to slow the expansion of data centers until the state fully assesses its long-term impacts. She pointed to water preservation and ratepayer responsibility as urgent concerns.
“We in Arizona need to pause the expansion of data centers in the state until we really figure out a plan on how we’re going to preserve our water, how we are going to make sure that ratepayers aren’t taking on the responsibility,” Ansari said.
She also called Trump’s support for data centers “out of touch,” saying it runs counter to what the “vast majority” of Americans want. Her blunt assessment: “If Donald Trump is such a big fan of data centers, then he should welcome them in his own backyard.”
Khanna’s Data Center Bill of Rights
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., offered a specific policy response: his proposed Data Center Bill of Rights. The bill would ban data centers within 2,500 feet of homes, schools, child care facilities, hospitals and nursing homes. It would also give communities greater authority over where they are built.
Khanna dismissed Trump’s comments that communities opposing data centers would fall behind. His assessment was direct: “Trump has failed to deliver for the forgotten American, so he’s just grasping at straws.”
Stevens on Electricity Bills
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., focused on the cost to everyday families. She questioned why data center growth is not tied to guaranteed low utility bills for average ratepayers.
“It baffles me that we are just not guaranteeing, for average ratepayers, low utility bills,” she said. “These data centers could play a role in that.”
Jackson on Unregulated Tech
Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., said lawmakers must prioritize what’s “fair” for local communities. He pointed to the tech sector’s growth and its lack of regulation.
“The wealth has gone into the tech sector, and they are unregulated, unbridled and not very philanthropic,” Jackson said.
Mace’s Split on AI
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., backed AI investment to compete with China but opposed building data centers in residential neighborhoods. Her position splits the Republican argument cleanly in half.
“We’ve got to stay ahead of China with AI, and data centers are a part of that,” Mace said. “But you don’t put them in somebody’s backyard and that’s the whole point.”
McCormick’s Pitch for Data Centers
Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., praised data centers for their potential benefits. He said they can generate tax revenue, improve local infrastructure and support energy production.
“You should be fighting over them,” McCormick said. “But, I mean, if you don’t want one, that’s up to you. I think you’re missing out.”
Norman on State Rights
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., took a federalist approach. He said decisions about data centers should be left to states and local communities.
“I believe in 10th Amendment rights, state rights,” Norman said. “Let each community take ownership, and they’ll make the right decisions.”
The Debate Over Water and Electricity
The debate highlights growing divisions over where data centers belong in local communities. As several states raise concerns over electricity costs, water use and development, the fight is not just about national policy. It is about what local leaders decide.
Trump’s warning about communities falling behind echoes a familiar theme from his administration. But the pushback from his own party suggests the message is not landing with everyone who wears the MAGA label.
Key Facts Box
- Trump warned communities blocking data centers would “end up being backwards and poor”
- Khanna’s Data Center Bill of Rights bans data centers within 2,500 feet of homes, schools, child care facilities, hospitals and nursing homes
- Ansari called Trump’s support for data centers “out of touch”
- Mace opposes data centers in residential neighborhoods while backing AI investment
- Norman cites the 10th Amendment as the basis for letting states decide
The fight is not going away. Data center expansion is continuing, and the pressure on local communities is mounting.
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