Sen. Tom Cotton is urging the Justice Department to investigate whether China-linked actors are trying to shape U.S. public opinion against data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure, escalating a growing political fight over America’s ability to compete with Beijing in the AI race.
In a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Arkansas Republican asked federal investigators to examine whether foreign actors are attempting to influence U.S. policy debates over data centers, energy use and AI development.
Cotton argued that the United States cannot afford to let a foreign adversary exploit local concerns about electricity, water, land use or environmental impact in a way that slows the buildout of computing infrastructure needed for advanced AI.
“Recent reports show that Communist China is attempting to influence our policy and public opinion on data centers,” Cotton told Fox News Digital. “The reason is obvious: they want to kneecap our processing power to win the AI race.”
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The request follows a report from the Bitcoin Policy Institute titled “Foreign Influence in the Campaign Against American AI.” The report alleges that opposition to U.S. AI infrastructure is being amplified through three streams: Chinese state media, a nonprofit network tied to Shanghai-based tech entrepreneur Neville Roy Singham, and foreign-funded advocacy campaigns.
The report argues that anti-data-center messaging has strategic value for Beijing because AI development depends heavily on access to large-scale computing power. Data centers provide the hardware infrastructure needed to train, host and deploy advanced AI models. If U.S. data center construction slows, the report argues, China could gain an advantage.
Republican lawmakers have increasingly adopted that argument. Earlier this month, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee urged federal agencies to examine whether foreign influence campaigns were helping fuel anti-data-center sentiment across the United States. Their letter cited reports from the Bitcoin Policy Institute and Power the Future, warning that foreign adversaries could be exploiting local opposition to weaken American AI competitiveness.
The issue has become politically sensitive because opposition to data centers is not limited to one ideology. Communities across the country have objected to data center projects because of concerns over electricity demand, water use, noise, land development, higher utility bills and environmental impact.
TechRadar reported that Data Center Watch found 55% of political opposition to data centers came from Republicans, complicating the claim that the movement is simply a left-wing or foreign-directed campaign.
That does not necessarily disprove foreign influence claims, but it shows the debate is more complicated than a single conspiracy. Local residents may oppose data centers for ordinary economic or environmental reasons, while foreign media or advocacy networks may still amplify some arguments for strategic purposes.
Cotton’s letter focuses heavily on the Singham network. Neville Roy Singham, the founder of Thoughtworks, has faced scrutiny from Republican lawmakers for funding a network of left-wing nonprofits and media organizations. He lives in Shanghai and has been accused by critics of supporting groups that echo Chinese Communist Party messaging. Singham and affiliated organizations have previously denied acting as agents of the Chinese government.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute report claims Singham-linked organizations have produced content opposing U.S. AI infrastructure, AI labs and export controls. It also points to Chinese state media coverage that portrays American data centers as environmentally harmful and economically burdensome, while China itself continues expanding and subsidizing AI infrastructure.
Cotton’s broader argument is that China benefits if the United States becomes politically unable to build the power plants, transmission lines, chips and data centers required for the next phase of artificial intelligence.
The debate comes as AI infrastructure has become a national security issue. U.S. officials, technology leaders and defense analysts increasingly argue that computing capacity will shape military systems, economic productivity, cybersecurity, intelligence operations and global influence.
Supporters of faster data center construction say the U.S. needs more energy production, streamlined permitting and fewer regulatory barriers. Cotton introduced the DATA Act of 2026 to make it easier for manufacturers, data centers and other energy-intensive industries to build dedicated power systems separate from the consumer electrical grid.
Critics of rapid data center expansion argue that communities should not be forced to absorb higher utility costs, water strain or environmental damage in the name of AI competition. They say companies should pay for the infrastructure they require and should be transparent about energy use.
Some groups mentioned in reports about foreign influence have pushed back strongly. The New York Post reported that the Wyss Foundation, one of the organizations cited in related debates, denied involvement in any foreign influence campaign and described the allegations as false and misleading.
That pushback matters because allegations of foreign influence can be politically explosive. If unsupported, they can discredit legitimate local concerns. If substantiated, they could reveal a serious national security vulnerability.
For now, Cotton is asking the Justice Department to investigate, not claiming that a final legal determination has already been made. Any serious probe would likely examine financial flows, communications, foreign-agent registration requirements and whether any groups knowingly acted on behalf of foreign interests.
One possible legal issue is the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA. The law requires individuals or entities acting under the direction or control of foreign principals to register with the Justice Department. Republicans have suggested that some China-linked advocacy networks may deserve scrutiny under FARA, while critics say such accusations are often used to chill activism.
The AI race gives the dispute urgency. China is investing heavily in chips, cloud infrastructure, AI models, robotics and military applications. The United States remains ahead in many areas, but that advantage depends on electricity, semiconductor supply chains, capital investment and the ability to build physical infrastructure.
If public opposition blocks or delays enough data centers, U.S. companies could face capacity constraints. If that opposition is partly shaped by foreign propaganda, Cotton argues, then the issue becomes a matter of national defense.
But if lawmakers dismiss every local objection as foreign influence, they risk ignoring real costs imposed on communities. The challenge is to separate genuine grassroots concern from coordinated information operations.
The Justice Department has not announced whether it will act on Cotton’s request. But the issue is likely to grow as AI companies continue searching for land, power and water to support large data center campuses.
The political fight is now clear: Republicans such as Cotton say America must build AI infrastructure quickly to beat China. Opponents warn that unchecked data center expansion could burden communities. And investigators may soon be asked to determine whether foreign actors are quietly pushing the debate in Beijing’s favor.
Why It Matters
This matters because AI infrastructure is becoming central to economic competition and national security. Data centers are not just tech facilities; they are the physical backbone of advanced AI systems.
It also matters because foreign influence allegations can reshape public debate. If China-linked actors are amplifying opposition to U.S. AI infrastructure, that would raise serious security concerns. But if legitimate local concerns are unfairly labeled propaganda, communities may lose trust in policymakers.
What Comes Next
The Justice Department may decide whether to review Cotton’s request and examine possible foreign influence, financial links or FARA issues connected to anti-data-center campaigns.
At the same time, Congress is likely to continue debating energy policy, permitting reform and whether the U.S. can build enough power and data infrastructure to maintain its AI lead over China.
At a House hearing on China’s threats to America, Stephen J. Cox, Counsel to the Governor of Alaska, warns about the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party-tied fintech firm Airwallex.
Sensitive U.S. financial data may be exposed to CCP access!
Cox notes, “Many of the… pic.twitter.com/pl3Mj9iBSL
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 4, 2026
