WASHINGTON

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) publicly rejected data center moratoriums on Saturday, calling them "political pandering and hyperbole" that benefit China's artificial intelligence ambitions.

Fetterman's remarks, posted on social media, came days after Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) signed an executive order Tuesday restricting data center development statewide. The senator argued that "AI supremacy and energy dominance underpins our national security" and that "China continues to fuel and benefit from our overreaction."

The split marks a rare break between Fetterman and his fellow Democrat in the governor's office and reflects deepening divisions among Democrats over AI infrastructure. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) signed the first statewide one-year data center moratorium in July, prompting Fetterman to declare flatly: "China wins."

Fetterman took direct aim at Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who sent a letter to AI company CEOs calling for a development pause. "This must not happen," Fetterman said. "America must lead in the development of AI, otherwise we live under China's rules."

Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced legislation in March to enact a data center moratorium pending comprehensive AI safety regulations.

The issue is spreading into Republican politics and state races. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) called for an audit of new data center developments on Aug. 3. Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers told the Detroit News this week he supports a one-year moratorium. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), the Republican gubernatorial nominee in Wisconsin, has attacked his opponent David Crowley as "Data Center David Crowley," making the issue central to that race.

President Donald Trump defended data center construction on Friday, citing job creation and tax revenue. "If you pick the right location, what it means for a community is jobs and lots of money and lower taxes," Trump said.

Trump also promoted a ratepayer protection pledge requiring major technology companies building data centers to "build, bring, or buy all of the energy needed" for their operations. The pledge aims to shield American consumers from energy cost increases tied to data center expansion.