Senators Seek DOI Answers on Data Center Plans for 18,000 Acres of Public Lands

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ron Wyden, and Jeff Merkley have asked Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum to address his reported role in efforts to develop privately owned data centers and related infrastructure on public lands. The inquiry follows September reporting that the administration is preparing development across nearly 18,000 acres in Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. The senators’ October 30, 2026, press release says DOI subsequently released limited details about Burgum’s meetings with data center developers and investors over the preceding year and a half, including repeated meetings with known developers since 2025.

The senators argue that the timing of those meetings, alongside reported efforts to advance public-land development, raises questions about the administration’s involvement and the transparency of the process. In their letter, they wrote that “the complete lack of transparency regarding these actions compounds our concerns” and stated that DOI has an obligation to respond to congressional oversight inquiries. The senators requested a written response by November 16, 2026. Their inquiry places the matter within the broader federal oversight of responsible public-land management; it does not establish that DOI has approved a project or initiated a procurement.

For GovCon firms, the reported acreage and multistate scope make this an early indicator to monitor, rather than a bid opportunity. Any project that advances could involve land-use decisions, public consultation, tribal engagement, and infrastructure planning before or alongside construction activity. The source does not identify a developer, solicitation, contract award, contract value, procurement vehicle, or requirements. It also does not identify a contracting office or establish that federal funds will be used to build privately owned data centers. Companies should therefore avoid treating the reported plans as a pipeline commitment or active federal acquisition.

The issue may nevertheless matter to data-center developers, construction firms, utility and supporting-infrastructure providers, and contractors tracking federal land policy. DOI’s response, if released, and subsequent agency actions could clarify whether the reported projects are being considered, what land-management processes may apply, and whether any public-sector requirements emerge. The senators also cite concerns about risks communities face from rapid data-center development. Their letter references the projects’ resource impacts and says such development is “consuming unprecedented amounts of water,” with concerns about worsening drought. Those concerns may inform public debate and project planning, but the available source does not establish specific project designs, water-use estimates, environmental findings, or permitting decisions.

• Three U.S. senators—Alex Padilla, Ron Wyden, and Jeff Merkley—requested information from DOI Secretary Doug Burgum about reported public-land data-center plans.
• The reported development footprint is nearly 18,000 acres across six states: Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah.
• The senators’ October 30, 2026, release says DOI disclosed limited details about meetings with data-center developers and investors over the previous year and a half; the release also describes repeated meetings with known developers since 2025.
• DOI was asked to provide a written response by November 16, 2026. The request is a congressional oversight action, not a solicitation or award notice.
• The plans reportedly involve privately owned data centers and related infrastructure on public lands; no named developer, contract value, procurement vehicle, or project requirements are provided.
• The senators question transparency and the timing of Burgum’s meetings, writing that the circumstances “raise serious questions” about his involvement in the deals.
• The source cites community concerns about rapid data-center development, including water consumption and potential pressure on drought-affected areas; it provides no project-specific impact figures.
• Contractors should monitor DOI’s response and any subsequent land-use or agency announcements, while distinguishing potential future infrastructure work from an active federal contracting opportunity.
• Potentially relevant planning considerations include public consultation, tribal engagement, resource impacts, and the federal process for managing public lands; the source does not confirm decisions on any of these matters.