Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is calling for a nationwide moratorium on new data center construction, becoming the first Republican senator to join Democrats in supporting a federal pause on the rapidly expanding industry.

Hawley announced his position Wednesday in a post on X outlining priorities he believes Senate Republicans should pursue over the next six weeks. His proposed agenda also includes defunding Planned Parenthood, suspending the federal gas tax, funding rural hospitals and passing the SAVE America Act.

"Senate Republicans trying to figure out what to do in the next 6 weeks? Here you go," Hawley wrote before listing the proposals, including a “MORATORIUM on data centers.”

The Missouri Republican has previously worked with progressive Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on legislation addressing the electricity costs associated with data center expansion. Their Guaranteeing Rate Insulation from Data Centers Act, introduced in February, would require new facilities to obtain power from sources separate from the electrical grid and give existing facilities 10 years to transition to independent power sources.

The legislation also seeks to guarantee that data center operators cover their own energy costs rather than passing expenses associated with increased electricity demand and grid infrastructure onto residential customers.

Hawley has argued that American households should not bear the financial burden of expanding data center operations as major technology companies increase their demand for electricity and water.

His call for a moratorium comes amid growing bipartisan opposition to data center development, particularly in communities concerned about higher utility bills, water consumption and pressure on local infrastructure. The issue gained additional political attention during the 2026 midterm elections, when candidates across the country called for tighter restrictions on new projects.

Hawley's position places him alongside progressive Democrats advocating a broader pause on construction, marking a notable divide within the Republican Party as President Donald Trump has supported expanding America's data center infrastructure to maintain its technological competitiveness.