Republican AI push hits internal resistance over data centers

Republicans are pushing to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure, but early divisions within the GOP are complicating efforts to streamline the data centers needed to support it.

Artificial intelligence has become a key policy issue in Congress and on the campaign trail, especially as the White House pushes for its expansion to boost economic and national security. Trump, himself, has raised concerns about energy consumption by data centers, but has also urged Congress to “preempt state AI laws” and pass legislation that will address the issue without hindering innovation.

That push ran into resistance this week. The House Judiciary Committee was set to take up a bill that would limit federal legal challenges to permits for data center construction. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), was scheduled for a markup, but it was postponed at the last minute, his office confirmed. 

The legislation received some early pushback from Rep. Thomas