Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill to Pause AI Data Center Construction, Warns of ‘Cataclysmic Changes’
Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill calling for a nationwide pause on building or upgrading AI data centers until Congress enacts regulations addressing safety, energy use, climate impact, and job displacement. The proposal comes as major tech companies plan to spend hundreds of billions on AI infrastructure, sparking local resistance over power consumption and environmental strain. The bill would require federal approval of AI systems before release and ensure that economic gains from AI benefit the public. Although the legislation faces long odds, it highlights growing political pressure around the rapid expansion of AI.