Deptula Warns Blocking Data Centers Risks U.S. Edge as China Could Double Capacity by 2030
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 28
Deptula Warns Blocking Data Centers Risks U.S. Edge as China Could Double Capacity by 2030
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 28
Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula argues opposition to new U.S. data centers is no longer just a zoning or environmental dispute but a national security risk tied to AI, military operations and deterrence.
Nearly every future-war function — from missile defense and autonomous systems to logistics and intelligence analysis — depends on storing, moving and processing vast data at speed, he writes.
China is building data infrastructure aggressively and could double its current capacity by 2030, Deptula says, citing Beijing's broader record in scaling rail, manufacturing and high-tech production.
He calls for faster permitting, more power generation and grid upgrades, while dispersing facilities beyond Northern Virginia to make U.S. data infrastructure more resilient.
The warning frames data centers as strategic assets in a potential Taiwan Strait conflict and after recent Iranian attacks on Middle East cloud and data infrastructure.
As civilian data centers become military targets, how can America protect the people and information they hold?
Can the U.S. win the AI race if its own communities are blocking the data centers it needs to compete?
How can America power its AI future when China controls the supply chains for its batteries and transformers?
America’s $3 Trillion AI Infrastructure Crisis: Security Risks, NIMBY Revolt, and China’s Green Tech Push
Overview
The rapid growth of data centers in the United States has sparked a heated national debate, blending concerns over national security, strong local opposition, and claims of foreign influence. Experts highlight data centers as vital to national power, especially after incidents like Iran’s attacks on Amazon facilities. Meanwhile, public resistance has surged, with most Americans now preferring a nuclear plant over a data center nearby, and opposition is more intense than for other energy projects. This widespread backlash, combined with allegations of foreign interference, has turned data center expansion into a major and complex national issue.