A group of former EPA officials has identified 30 federal actions taken since January 2025 that they say weaken environmental protections and raise health risks tied to AI data center construction1,2.
The findings were presented this week in a briefing and accompanying report, according to The Verge. The former officials are urging Donald Trump to adopt a "Data Center Health Protection Pledge" to demonstrate that the administration takes the environmental threat seriously.
The report lands against a backdrop of deliberate regulatory rollback. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin proclaimed at the start of his term that his goal was making America "the AI capital of the world" through deregulation. Since then, Zeldin and the White House have rolled back dozens of rules, according to The Verge.
The former officials characterized the administration's posture bluntly: the Trump administration is "sacrificing Americans' health to build data centers".
The proposed Data Center Health Protection Pledge would serve as a public signal that the administration acknowledges the environmental risks associated with rapid data center buildout. The former officials described the request as an appeal to the president, though The Verge noted the effort may be "futile".
ANALYSIS The 30-action tally gives the former officials' critique a concrete, countable dimension that moves the debate beyond general complaints about deregulation. Whether the pledge gains traction depends on political dynamics the report itself cannot control, but the specificity of the count creates a reference point for future oversight and litigation.