# Incoming congressman Lawrence seeks federal data center moratorium

_Published Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 4:05 PM EST · Policy, Infrastructure, AI · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Incoming congressman Lawrence seeks federal data center moratorium — Primary](https://media.wired.com/photos/6aee8c314e9fcb3cda39f822/191:100/w_1280,c_limit/Power-Play-Ran-on-Hating-Congress.jpg)

Incoming Michigan congressman Will Lawrence plans to push for a federal data center moratorium and a pause on advanced AI development when he takes office in January, he told WIRED. Lawrence said the pause should be contingent on safety regulations covering both AI risks and the effects of data center construction on people and the environment.

Lawrence defeated incumbent Republican Tom Barrett after campaigning against data centers. He also supported using congressional oversight and investigations to examine AI companies' risks. His proposed restrictions describe an agenda for his upcoming term; they do not establish a federal pause.

## Sources

- [WIRED](https://www.wired.com/story/he-ran-on-fighting-data-centers-now-hes-going-to-congress/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/7urg3mijfH-5p_Dystd-Us
Published: 2026-11-07T21:05:46.507Z
Story chronology: 2026-11-07T11:00:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-11-08T06:07:56.736Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)