Pentagon Wants to Build Data Centers; Congress Has Questions

The Pentagon is pushing to build data centers on military installations to enhance warfighting capabilities with AI-driven technologies such as drone swarms. However, members of Congress from both parties are raising alarms about the potential strain on resources and local infrastructure.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Pentagon to assess the impact of data centers on energy and water consumption, noise and light pollution, and security before finalizing deals. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), have introduced provisions that would mandate congressional briefings on these impacts. Some Democrats, like Rep. Rashida Tlaib, sought to ban AI data centers on federal lands, but those efforts were rejected by Republicans.

Defense officials and some Republicans argue that excessive regulation could slow military innovation and hinder the U.S. in the AI arms race against adversaries like China. The Army has already signed agreements with private companies to build data centers at Fort Bliss and Dugway Proving Ground, claiming no upfront cost to taxpayers. Critics remain skeptical, noting that a single data center at Fort Bliss could require more power than all of El Paso's residential customers combined. Lawmakers from both chambers will reconcile their versions of defense bills later this year.