More than 800 former Environmental Protection Agency employees are warning about health risks tied to the rapid growth of data centers. The Environmental Protection Network released a report Thursday examining pollution tied to the facilities' soaring electricity demand. The group focused on emissions from power plants, gas turbines, and diesel generators.

The nonprofit's report, titled "The Hidden Health Costs of AI Data Centers," lists at least 30 federal actions taken since January 2025 that it claims could increase pollution-related health risks. Seventeen of those actions explicitly reference AI or data centers. The remaining actions affect how the facilities are powered, permitted, or regulated.

Academic modeling cited in the report projects that air pollution linked to data centers could contribute to roughly 600,000 asthma symptom cases, 1,300 premature deaths, and more than $20 billion in annual public health costs by 2028. The former EPA employees note that these figures do not factor in recent regulatory changes.

Data centers have expanded quickly to support artificial intelligence and cloud computing. More than 1,300 facilities already operate in the United States, with over 2,000 additional projects planned. The facilities require substantial electricity, often met through natural gas plants, backup generators, and grid power.

The Environmental Protection Network argues that EPA staffing levels, now at their lowest in four decades, limit the agency's ability to monitor and enforce pollution limits amid the buildout. Dr. Lynn Goldman, a pediatrician and former EPA assistant administrator, stated that agencies are weakening safeguards to accelerate approvals for tech and power companies.

The Trump administration has prioritized making the United States the AI capital of the world. EPA actions under Administrator Lee Zeldin have included guidance to speed permitting for data centers and related power sources while emphasizing grid reliability and lower energy costs. Proponents of the expansion point to economic benefits, including jobs in construction, operations, and supporting industries.

The report comes as communities in states such as Virginia and Texas raise separate concerns over local air quality, water use, and noise from data center projects. The Environmental Protection Network plans to continue tracking federal policy changes affecting the sector.