President Donald Trump criticizes New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to impose a one-year statewide moratorium on certain large data centers, calling it a “terrible decision” and urging the state to reverse course. The policy, signed by Hochul on Tuesday via an executive order, pauses permitting and construction of “hyperscale” data centers—facilities described as major energy users that support AI-related computing—at least those drawing 50 megawatts or more of power. Several outlets report that Trump raises the issue in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, telling Hochul to scrap or change the moratorium “immediately.”
Trump also alleges the freeze is driven by “political reasons,” according to multiple accounts, and argues that data centers are beneficial for states and communities. Reporting across outlets agrees that New York becomes the first US state to enact such a statewide pause and that the measure is framed as a temporary halt rather than a permanent ban. Bloomberg, The Hill, and others also describe Trump’s calls for New York to reverse the decision shortly after it takes effect.
