Air Force’s proposal for private AI data centers on bases draws security concerns

Private data-center workers’ access to military installations is drawing scrutiny as the Air Force pursues leases at five bases. In an October 30 report by Arizona’s Family, San Jose State University’s Roberto Gonzalez warned that the proposal—including about 300 acres at Davis-Monthan in Arizona—could introduce security vulnerabilities near military training and test facilities.

Gonzalez, an expert on U.S. militarism, questioned the risks of private personnel servicing and maintaining data centers at sensitive sites. His concerns include possible espionage or sabotage. Those are warnings about the proposed arrangement, not allegations that data-center workers have carried out either activity.

The security boundary could move

The Air Force has outlined a way to separate commercial operations from the rest of an installation. In a December 8, 2025 FAQ, it said it would try to move the perimeter fence to give developers and operators separate site access, where feasible. Otherwise, their personnel would have to meet installation security requirements.

That approach makes access arrangements dependent on the location of each parcel, rather than promising one arrangement across all five installations. Gonzalez also raised a separate concern: greater military reliance on AI could create infrastructure vulnerabilities that adversaries might target, regardless of whether a data center sits on military or private land.

AI Data Centers at DAF installations are not meant to primarily support mission data requirements but will primarily support commercial use.

Department of the Air Force, December 8, 2025 FAQ

Military land, commercial customers

The proposal is a land-leasing initiative, not a commitment to buy computing services. Selected private entities would finance, construct, own, operate and maintain the centers. The Air Force says it neither requires nor guarantees its own use of the facilities; any agreement to serve an Air Force customer would be negotiated separately from the lease.

Arizona’s Family reports that the proposed leases would last 50 years under a federal statute allowing underused military land to be leased to promote national defense. In exchange for land, the Air Force says it would receive cash, benefits of monetary value instead of cash, or a combination.

Alongside Davis-Monthan, the sites are Arnold in Tennessee, Edwards in California, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Robins in Georgia. The Air Force says market analysis, available infrastructure and strategic importance guided the selection. Its FAQ ties the initiative to Trump administration executive orders, including the July 2025 order on data-center permitting.

Power benefits come with conditions

One potential benefit concerns backup access to electricity. Where a developer proposes a dedicated energy source, the Air Force requires first right of refusal to power during a grid outage. Any electricity the installation obtains would still require a separate negotiation. The provision is conditional, not a promise that every site will gain its own power source.

The solicitation also requires developers to address the demands their facilities would place on surrounding communities. Proposals must include:

• Mitigation and contingency plans to protect utility capacity, resilience and service life.
• Measures to limit risks to the affordability, reliability and quality of energy, water and communications.
• Plans to minimize environmental, cultural and infrastructure impacts and maintain compatibility with neighboring communities.

These are requirements for applicants, not demonstrated operating results. The Air Force says environmental and other required regulatory reviews must be completed before it enters a lease, after the selected applicant’s proposed work is sufficiently developed.