June 15, 2026 A major federal law governing how US government agencies build, manage, and report on data centers is set to expire later this year. Sources who spoke to WIRED said neither Congress nor the Trump administration appears to be taking significant steps to renew the Federal Data Center Enhancement Act (FDCEA) or replace its requirements.
The FDCEA, passed in 2023, established standards for cybersecurity, resiliency, energy efficiency, water usage, reporting, and approval processes for federally operated or leased data centers. It is a continuation of federal efforts dating back more than a decade to improve oversight of government IT infrastructure.
According to current and former government employees cited by WIRED, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not provided guidance on how agencies should handle the law’s expiration or continue reporting requirements after it sunsets. One General Services Administration (GSA) employee described the lack of a replacement plan as highly unusual. “Never in the history of data center policies has a policy expired without another one having been painstakingly worked on for three years behind the scenes,” the employee said.
The issue comes as demand for data centers continues to rise alongside the federal government’s adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. The Electric Power Research Institute estimates that data centers could consume at least 9 percent of US electricity by 2030.
The FDCEA currently requires agencies to consult energy specialists, consider water consumption in data center designs, report compliance information to OMB, and notify OMB and Congress before acquiring new data centers. It also sets standards for cybersecurity and operational resilience.
Senator Jacky Rosen, one of the original sponsors of the legislation, told WIRED that her office is exploring options to ensure data centers housing Americans’ personal information remain secure after the law expires. However, no specific plans were disclosed.
Current and former federal officials warned that allowing the law to lapse could reduce transparency around federal data center operations. They noted that the administration has already ended some public federal IT monitoring metrics, including the Federal IT Dashboard, which tracks government technology spending and contracts.
Matt Triner, founder of IT consulting firm Hunter Strategy, said reduced reporting requirements could lead to less visibility into how agencies manage infrastructure and resources.
Others also raised concerns that the expiration could weaken oversight of energy and water consumption at a time when large-scale data center development is accelerating across the country.
The White House did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment. An OMB spokesperson said the agency will fulfill all statutory requirements.
The FDCEA is currently scheduled to sunset this fall.
