Greene: Trump's AI order ignores 'massive' water usage of data centers
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) voiced concerns Thursday about President Trump’s push to build out artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, warning about the “massive” water usage of data centers.
Trump laid out his approach to the technology in his AI Action Plan on Wednesday and signed three executive orders aimed at delivering on portions of the plan, including fast-tracking data center construction, boosting the export of American AI and barring “woke” AI in federal contracting.
“I have many concerns about the AI Executive Order signed yesterday by President Trump,” Greene wrote in a lengthy post on the social platform X. “While I understand the many promised benefits of AI, I remain committed to protecting state rights, human jobs, human lives, human rights, our environment and critical water supply.”
While Greene mentions a singular executive order, she appears be referring to both the broader AI framework and the orders signed by the president.
Under the AI Action Plan, the administration calls for exempting “data center-related actions” from environmental review. It also seeks to fast-track data center and energy projects under the nation’s permitting system, while considering a nationwide permit to allow these projects to move forward despite potential water quality impacts.
“Rushed AI expansion and data centers being built all over the country from state to state with no plan in regards to environmental and critical water supply impact has massive future implications and problems,” Greene said.
AI requires a vast amount of power, which is why the Trump administration is pushing to expand the nation’s data center and energy infrastructure. However, these data centers also require water for cooling.
“I’ve been in construction my entire life,” Greene added. “I can tell you firsthand, when you move dirt there is always an impact to the surrounding area. When you build something that requires a HIGH water demand, it will always take water away from others - that means people, cities, businesses, and surrounding counties and states.”
The Georgia Republican also took issue with the AI plan's push to roll back regulations on AI, particularly at the state level. The administration calls for limiting federal funding to states whose AI regulations are deemed too onerous and directs the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate whether state AI rules interfere with its mandate.
“My deep concerns are that the EO demands rapid AI expansion with little to no guardrails and breaks,” she said.
She compared the restrictions on federal funding to an AI provision that was ultimately removed from Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which he signed into law earlier this month.
The provision sought to bar states from regulating AI for 10 years by withholding federal funds. Greene opposed the AI moratorium, which was removed from the bill by a 99-1 vote in the Senate.
“Competing with China does not mean become like China by threatening state rights, replacing human jobs on mass scale creating mass poverty, and creating potentially devastating effects on our environment and critical water supply,” she added. “This needs a careful and wise approach. The AI EO takes the opposite.”