Trump Administration Eyes AI Infrastructure Expansion with New Executive Orders
- Antwan Koss
- June 28, 2025
- Legal
- 0 Comments
Trump Administration Weighs AI Infrastructure Push—But Details Are Murky
The Trump administration might be gearing up to roll out executive orders aimed at boosting AI infrastructure—at least, that’s what Reuters is reporting. The plans, still unconfirmed, could include faster access to the power grid, looser permitting rules, and even opening up federal land for data centers.
It’s not entirely clear how far along these proposals are, though. The White House hasn’t commented, and the Department of the Interior stayed silent when asked. But if the leaks are accurate, the administration seems intent on cutting through red tape to speed things up. One idea floating around? Prioritizing energy projects that support AI development, possibly even bypassing local zoning laws.
Why the Rush? China, Jobs, and Soaring Energy Demands
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. The U.S. is scrambling to keep pace with China’s AI ambitions, and that means building—fast. Back in January, Trump signed an order reversing Biden-era policies that slowed AI expansion, calling it a move to “remove barriers to American leadership.” Around the same time, he announced the Stargate initiative, a $500 billion project backed by Oracle, SoftBank, and OpenAI.
“We’re talking about over 100,000 American jobs,” Trump said at the time. Whether that number holds up is another question, but the scale is undeniably huge.
And the energy needs? Even bigger. A Deloitte report predicts AI data centers alone could go from consuming 4 gigawatts in 2024 to 123 gigawatts by 2035. For context, 4 gigawatts powers roughly 3.25 million U.S. homes annually. That’s a staggering jump—one that’s already reshaping where and how tech companies build.
Tech Giants Are All In—But Not Without Pushback
Amazon’s dropping $20 billion on Pennsylvania data centers and another $10 billion in North Carolina. Elon Musk’s xAI is plowing ahead with a supercomputer facility in Memphis, though it’s hitting snags—the NAACP is threatening to sue over alleged Clean Air Act violations.
Legal challenges like that could slow things down, but the momentum is hard to ignore. If the White House does push through these executive orders, it’ll likely face criticism for sidestepping environmental and zoning regulations. Then again, speed seems to be the priority.
For now, though, it’s all speculation. The White House isn’t talking, and without official confirmation, these plans could shift—or even stall. But one thing’s certain: the race for AI dominance isn’t just about algorithms. It’s about land, power, and who can build fastest.
