# Dexter Proposes Federal Lands Data Center Ban

On November 11, 2026, Representative Maxine Dexter introduced the Protecting Our Public Lands from Data Centers Act. The proposal would prohibit new data centers and related infrastructure on covered federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior. It is legislation under consideration, not an enacted restriction or a procurement award, but it could affect future site selection and infrastructure planning if passed.

- Data-center developers and infrastructure contractors evaluating federal public-land sites should account for the proposed restriction in site and project planning; the proposal does not itself establish a current ban.
- The bill targets new facilities and associated infrastructure on covered lands, making federal land access a potential siting constraint for future data-center projects.
- No contract value, solicitation, award, or compliance deadline is identified in the signal.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Policy, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** November 11, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
- U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
- U.S. Congress

### Key Quotes
> Representative Dexter’s legislation draws a clear line by keeping these industrial facilities and their associated infrastructure off lands managed by the Forest Service and Department of the Interior.
> — Athan Manuel, Director of the Lands Protection Program, Sierra Club

> My bill keeps these lands safe from data centers now, and for the generations who come after us.
> — Maxine Dexter, U.S. Representative

### Sources
- [Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. Introduces Bill to Ban Data Centers on Federal Public Lands | Representative Maxine Dexter](https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-dexter-md-introduces-bill-ban-data-centers-federal-public) - Dexter House