Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wants the government to impose a wholesale moratorium on the development of artificial intelligence technology.
During a Sunday appearance on Face the Nation, Sanders expressed concerns about the impact of AI data centers on electricity bills and how it might affect Americans’ ability to get jobs.
“Right now, among many other things, we're seeing data centers sprouting all over the country, raising electric bills for people in the communities, et cetera,” the senator said. “I think we need to be thinking seriously about a moratorium on these data centers. Frankly, I think you got to slow this process down.”
It's not good enough for the oligarchs to tell us, ‘It's coming, you adapt.’ What are they talking about? They're going to guarantee health care to all people? What are they going to do when people have no jobs? Going to do? Make housing free? I think we need to take a deep breath, and I think we need to slow this thing down. One way to do it would probably be a moratorium on data centers.
🚨Bernie Sanders calls for a moratorium on artificial intelligence data centers.
— Jeff Charles, Asker of Questions🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) December 29, 2025
"We're seeing data centers sprouting all over the country, raising electric bills for people in the communities...I think we need to be thinking seriously about a moratorium on these data centers." pic.twitter.com/1JygpThsxU
Sanders released a video earlier this month in which he made the case for halting AI development. “AI and robotics are the most transformative technologies in the history of humanity, and will have a profound impact on the lives of every man, woman, and child in our country,” he noted.
He pointed out that “the very wealthiest people on Earth” including “Elon Musk, Jeff Bezons, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Bill Gates, and other multi-billionaires” are pushing for advancements in AI technology.
“Do you believe that these guys, these multibillionaires, are staying up nights worrying about what AI and robotics will do to the working families of our country and the world? Well, I don't think so,” Sanders said.
The lawmaker quoted Musk when he said “AI and robots will replace all jobs. Working will be optional.”
Sanders noted that Darryl Amodai, the CEO of Anthropic, “warned that AI could lead to the loss of half of all entry-level white-collared jobs.”
“If AI and robotics eliminate millions of jobs and create massive unemployment, how will people survive if they have no income?” Sanders asekd. “I don't want to break the bad news to you. I know it won't shock you, but very few members of Congress are seriously thinking about this.”
We need all of our people, all of our people involved in determining the future of AI, and not just a handful of multibillionaires. That is why for a start, I will be pushing for a moratorium on the construction of data centers that are powering this unregulated sprint to develop and deploy AI. This moratorium will give democracy a chance to catch up with the transformative changes that we are witnessing and make sure that the benefits of these technologies work for us, not just the wealthiest people on Earth. Thank you very much.
I will be pushing for a moratorium on the construction of data centers that are powering the unregulated sprint to develop & deploy AI.
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 16, 2025
The moratorium will give democracy a chance to catch up, and ensure that the benefits of technology work for all of us, not just the 1%. pic.twitter.com/PoV5ziA4oQ
President Donald Trump is pushing for a different route. He recently signed an executive order establishing a federal framework aimed at preempting state regulations on artificial intelligence. Under the order, the Justice Department is instructed to challenge state laws restricting AI development or use. The objective is to have a national standard when it comes to regulating AI.
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study released this year found that artificial intelligence could already replace 11.7 percent of jobs in the U.S. labor market. This represents about $1.2 trillion in wages across several industries, including finance, healthcare, and professional services.
