The US government is set to allow a key rule governing federal data centre usage and operations—known as the Federal Data Center Enhancement Act (FDCEA)—to expire, according to sources speaking to WIRED.

Neither Congress nor the Trump administration seems inclined to extend or replace this policy. This comes amid growing public opposition to data centres, seen as energy-intensive and infrastructure-heavy, especially in places like Utah and Georgia where residents are resisting their construction.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is not preparing any plans for the sunset of FDCEA, a move that former and current workers at OMB say signals an even more hands-off approach. Without clear guidance or replacements, federal agencies may find themselves navigating uncharted waters in data centre management.

As AI tools demand ever-greater computing power, the need for robust data centres is only set to grow. This could mean significant changes in energy consumption, with estimates suggesting that by 2030, data centres could consume up to 9% of US electricity. Yet, there remains no clear plan or legislation to address these challenges.