Current AI action plans under the Trump administration feature accelerated timelines for building AI data centers on federal lands, primarily through private-sector partnerships. These infrastructure plans were detailed in the "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" and related Executive Orders issued in mid-2025.
Key dates and actions related
to AI data centers for federal agencies include:
- March 2025: An earlier Biden
administration plan expired, which involved identifying and soliciting
proposals for AI data centers on federal land.
- August 2, 2025: Relevant federal
agencies were required to identify existing categorical exclusions under
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that apply to data center
projects, allowing for expedited environmental reviews.
- August 14, 2025: The U.S. General
Services Administration (GSA) launched USAi.gov, a secure generative AI
suite for federal agencies to experiment with and adopt AI technology.
- August 22, 2025: A 30-day window
opened for federal agencies to accept applications for "covered
project" designations under FAST-41, a program that fast-tracks
federal permit coordination.
- October 9, 2025: The Department of
Energy (DOE) issued a request for proposals to build AI data centers and
power plants on federal land, such as the Oak Ridge site.
- Late 2027: Private sector companies may begin operating AI data centers built on federal land, assuming construction timelines outlined by the DOE are followed.
Broader federal AI action and
policy
Beyond infrastructure, the
2025 AI Action Plan directs federal agencies on several broader AI-related
efforts:
- Workforce Development: Federal
agencies are reviewing options to attract, hire, and train employees with
AI expertise.
- Data and Governance: Agencies are
implementing the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI
Risk Management Framework, and new guidelines focus on agency-developed
risk management for high-impact AI use cases.
- Cloud Computing: Agencies continue to
use the 2019 "Cloud Smart" strategy to modernize legacy systems,
with AI used to streamline cloud adoption and improve decision-making.
- AI Safety and Security: Agencies are strengthening AI cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, including guidance on responding to AI-specific vulnerabilities.
Regulatory shifts
In July 2025, the new AI
Action Plan reversed course on some earlier policies:
- It rescinded the Biden administration's
Executive Order 14110 and a subsequent order focused on AI infrastructure.
- The new plan eliminates or reduces some
environmental review requirements for data center construction.
- NIST guidelines related to misinformation, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and climate change were updated.
The U.S. federal government's
AI Action Plan, released in July 2025, directs federal agencies to develop AI
infrastructure, including data centers, through regulatory streamlining and
specific deadlines. Simultaneously, ongoing requirements from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) obligate agencies to manage and report on their AI
use and procurement.
Federal AI Action Plan for data centers (July 2025)
The "Winning the Race: America's AI Action Plan," issued in July 2025, includes directives for accelerating the construction of AI-specific data center infrastructure. An accompanying Executive Order, "Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure," sets specific dates for agency action.
Key timeline dates for
agencies and AI data centers:
- August 2, 2025: Federal agencies must
identify existing categorical exclusions under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) that are applicable to data centers and related
infrastructure.
- August 22, 2025: A 30-day window
opens for companies to apply for FAST-41 project designations, which
expedite federal environmental review and permitting for qualifying
projects.
- January 2026: The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator must create guidance for expedited
environmental reviews of data center projects on Brownfield and Superfund
sites.
- End of 2025: The Department of Energy
is expected to announce its selection of private partners for AI data
center and energy generation projects at four federal sites, with specific
solicitations anticipated in the coming months.
- Rolling basis (medium term, 2-3 years): Federal agencies are tasked with identifying appropriate federal lands for new data center construction.
OMB directives for AI use and
procurement
Beyond the infrastructure plan, separate guidance from the OMB requires federal agencies to meet certain obligations regarding their use and acquisition of AI.
Recent OMB requirements for AI
development:
- December 1, 2024: Agencies must
ensure their existing "safety-impacting" and
"rights-impacting" AI use cases comply with minimum risk
management requirements or be submitted for a waiver.
- March 2024 (annually
updated): Agencies are required to maintain a public inventory of
their AI use cases.
- October 20, 2025: Agencies must
update their policies on standardizing the treatment of data ownership and
intellectual property rights for AI procurements.
- End of 2025: Agencies must update their acquisition processes to align with new OMB guidance on AI procurement.
New AI tools for federal agencies
The government is also developing resources to help agencies adopt AI responsibly. In August 2025, the General Services Administration (GSA) launched USAi.gov, a secure generative AI evaluation suite that allows federal agencies to test AI tools.
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