Biden Issues Executive Order for Building AI Data Centers on Federal Land

The White House said the construction of AI data centers will help prevent adversaries from accessing ‘powerful systems to the detriment’ of the U.S. military.

President Joe Biden speaks at the White House, on January 10, 2025. Alex Wong/Getty Images

President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Tuesday to accelerate the construction of large-scale data centers and clean power infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) on federal sites.

Biden, whose presidency will end when President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, said the order will direct the Defense Department (DOD) and Energy Department (DOE) to lease federal sites to the private sector for building AI infrastructure.