The Trump administration is preparing to issue a series of executive orders aimed at accelerating the United States’ position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, especially against China. According to Reuters, these upcoming directives will focus on expanding energy infrastructure and data center capacity, removing regulatory hurdles to support AI development within the country.
Officials say that rapid growth in AI applications has significantly increased electricity demand, stressing state power grids. To address this, the administration plans to prioritize power projects by shortening environmental reviews and quickly linking them to the grid. There’s also a proposal to allow data centers to be built on government land managed by the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior—lands that often face local opposition and strict regulations.
Consultants estimate that AI-driven energy demand in the U.S. could grow five times faster between 2024 and 2029 than previously expected. Deloitte predicts it may increase 30-fold by 2035 due to data center expansion. From his first day in office, Trump declared a national energy emergency and placed AI at the center of both economic and national security policy.
During a January event at the White House, Trump publicly committed to countering China’s dominance in AI and unveiled the multibillion-dollar “Stargate Project,” involving OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. The initiative promises to build cutting-edge data centers and generate over 100,000 jobs.
The administration is also considering issuing a national Clean Water Act permit to streamline approvals for data centers, replacing the current state-by-state process and promoting faster innovation. Furthermore, the executive orders may include restrictions on U.S. investment in Chinese AI and quantum tech firms, citing national security risks. Plans also involve tighter controls on AI chip and software exports to Macau, Hong Kong, and mainland China.
By reducing regulatory burdens at the state level and encouraging domestic tech production, the Trump administration hopes to attract over $100 billion in private sector investment through the Stargate project alone.
While the White House has not made an official statement, sources suggest the executive orders and a new national AI strategy will be announced in the coming weeks.
