Trump Executive Order Enables 50-Year AI Data Center Leases at Air Force Bases

The United States Air Force has proposed leasing approximately 300 acres at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona for the construction of artificial intelligence data centers. This move represents the first major step in a federal initiative to place private technology infrastructure on military installations.

The proposal is one of five planned locations across the Air Force. The specific site in Arizona would host facilities designed to handle the computational demands of modern military operations. These operations include drone swarms and advanced simulations that require significant processing power.

In late July 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that authorized the use of federal land for these AI data centers. The order allows the government to lease underutilized military property to promote national defense. Under the current federal statute, these leases have a duration of 50 years.

The lease agreements permit the government to purchase services and power from the data centers, but they do not require it. This structure creates a commercial relationship between the military and private developers while maintaining the federal government's role as a potential customer.

Security experts have raised concerns about the integration of private companies into sensitive military zones. Roberto Gonzalez, an expert on U.S. militarism at San Jose State University, stated that this plan introduces a new level of vulnerability to military bases. He noted that American servicemen and women stationed at these locations could be placed in harm's way.

Gonzalez emphasized that the physical location of the data center does not eliminate the security risks. He argued that building a military reliant on artificial intelligence creates new vulnerabilities that enemies can target. This is true whether the facility sits on military land or private property.

Two companies have been selected for the initial data centers. The first is the Carlyle Group, a major private equity firm. The second is CyrusOne, which is jointly owned by KKR, another private equity firm, and BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager. Gonzalez questioned the extent to which these firms have been vetted for security purposes.

He expressed concern that private firms financed by private equity or venture capital are now operating on military bases. According to Gonzalez, this arrangement carries the possibility that individuals servicing or maintaining the data centers could be involved in espionage or sabotage.

Separate from the Davis-Monthan proposal, another data center project is underway in Ahwatukee. The developer, Menlo Digital, is constructing five two-story buildings on a 38-acre site off 48th Street. The complex will total one million square feet. Community opposition to this project has grown and has become an issue in the midterm elections.

A third project is planned near Luke Air Force Base. The developer for this site received a military compatibility permit from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Officials stated that the developer coordinated with base leadership to ensure the operations align with safety and flight criteria.