Republicans Struggle For Footing On Data Center Response Ahead Of Midterms

Vulnerable House Republicans returned to Washington this week pushing for action before the midterms on reining in data centers, only to find their leadership still undecided on the volatile issue.

Further complicating the debate: President Donald Trump's Truth Social post Monday saying that the only reason Americans might not want data centers built in their communities is if they “want to end up being backwards and poor."

The desire for action on data centers, which had already divided the House GOP conference, came up in multiple member discussions early this week — including a conversation that House Speaker Mike Johnson hosted Monday with freshman lawmakers, Republicans told POLITICO.

Multiple lawmakers pushed back on Trump’s Monday comments in the closed-door meeting and in other conversations with Johnson and House GOP leaders after the president’s post, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter.

"My communities know what they want to live next to and what they want to co-inhabit with,” Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), who is running for re-election in a competitive Pennsylvania district, said in response to the Trump data center decree. “And that's why it's so important that Congress [acts.]”

The need to act "was a big topic of conversation in the freshman meeting yesterday,” he said of the Johnson meeting. “I know a few of us have similar, different pieces of legislation, but there's certainly a willingness, from my perspective, that this is something that we can't run from, and our communities are begging us for help."

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told POLITICO he's hoping his legislation meant to curb the impact data centers have on the electrical grid can bridge the divide between parts of the GOP — including Trump — who have doubled down on data centers, and party vulnerables who want to respond to constituent backlash against the AI infrastructure.

He's pushing Johnson to schedule a vote on the bill, approved by his committee earlier this year, in the coming month. Guthrie believes the so-called Ratepayer Protection Act and another bill on data center water use align with Trump’s recent data center support while still providing relief for the communities where they're built. "Our model is the Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” Guthrie said, referring to a White House compact released earlier this year to ensure tech companies pay for the energy costs associated with data centers.

But Johnson told POLITICO that leaders are "looking at" the legislation and "trying to figure out when and how we can process that, but on the data center issue we've been very insistent that community responses need to be respected."

Guthrie is seeking floor time for a vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act in the coming month. The bill, originally from Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), would require states to consider adopting a federal standard to ensure data centers cover the costs of the grid upgrades needed to serve them.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, though, said that some in the Republican conference have also expressed concerns about anti-data center sentiment and whether it is being fueled by China. Scalise said he was “breaking down the myths, getting the facts out.” Scalise told POLITICO that no data center-related vote had been scheduled in September.

A Scalise spokesperson said last week some members have concerns with the Ratepayer Protection Act. And putting the bill on the floor could also pose risks for Republicans as the politics of data centers continue to fluctuate.

This week, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats have been panning Republicans for votes they took last year on a data center-related provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Guthrie’s interpretation of Trump’s latest data center comments — as being focused on community choice — was broader than some members'.

Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), who is running in a competitive district that has seen backlash to data centers, distanced himself from the president’s comments Tuesday.

“The president's going to speak to what he wants to speak to,” Nunn said, adding that “If you want to come and build one of your data centers here, work with our local government, work with our states...do it in a way that’s respectful.”

Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), who last month introduced a bill to give communities more say and transparency in data center-related decisions, said he is choosing to prioritize local sentiment on the issue — and bucking the Trump administration’s forceful backing of the facilities. He is in a tight race for reelection.

Barrett and Bresnahan are among those pressing for committee action on additional legislation to address voter concerns. Both have bills aimed at curbing federal overreach in local decision-making around data centers.

“I just do what I think is right, which is support local communities, their decision making,” Barrett said.

Meredith Lee Hill and Andres Picon contributed to this report.