Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez unveil bill to halt data center construction

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced legislation Wednesday to halt all new data center construction until the federal government establishes safeguards for artificial intelligence development. The Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act would block AI infrastructure projects while lawmakers work on regulatory measures governing the technology. The bill reflects growing congressional concern about the rapid expansion of data centers and their potential risks, including energy consumption, environmental impact, and AI safety. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez argue that a construction pause is necessary to allow policymakers to catch up with the speed of AI advancement before critical infrastructure is locked in place. The measure faces an uncertain path in Congress, where support for strict AI regulation is mixed across both parties.