MAHA warns Trump against coal-powered data centers

Updated 2 hours ago – Energy & Climate. MAHA warns Trump against coal-powered data centers.

Key points

• Along with President Trump, the joint letter is copied to Kennedy, Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
• Charles Eisenstein, who was a speechwriter and adviser on Health Secretary Robert F.
• An April 2025 executive order calls coal "critical" to session rising power demand from data centers and other needs.
• State of play: The Trump administration is moving on multiple fronts to boost coal-fired power, often citing AI power demand among the reasons.
• The Energy Department has confirmed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to retain and even expand coal-fired power.

Updated 2 hours ago – Energy & Climate. MAHA warns Trump against coal-powered data centers. Add Axios as your preferred source to. See more of our stories on Google.

It cites coal's public health and environmental toll due to soot pollution, mercury, and byproducts called "coal ash" that contain heavy metals.

Notably, the major picture: The letter signals an escalation of MAHA engagement on data centers and what's powering them.

It urges the administration to convene MAHA leaders, farmers, physicians and others to craft "health-first standards for AI infrastructure."

It notes there are better energy options, citing solar paired with energy storage, advanced geothermal, and improved energy efficiency. Driving the news: The plenty of signers of the letter include. Moms Throughout America founder Zen Honeycutt.

Charles Eisenstein, who was a speechwriter and adviser on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2024 presidential campaign. Aimee Villella McBride, executive director of the Global Wellness Forum. David Murphy, founder and CEO of United We Eat.

In practice, an April 2025 executive order calls coal "critical" to session rising power demand from data centers and other needs.

For context, the Energy Department has confirmed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to retain and even expand coal-fired power.

Though she cautions she doesn't speak for the whole movement, what they're saying: The rise of data centers and what's fueling them is a new area of interest for Moms Throughout America and numerous in the MAHA movement, Honeycutt noted.

"MAHA is not just regarding. Getting pesticides out of our food, or having vaccines be safe. We're regarding not having toxins impact the health of our families and our communities and farmers, " she stated in an interview.

"This is a an extremely important issue that is emerging in a new way for the MAHA movement, " she remarked.

In practice, the other side: "Greenhouse gas emissions dropped to their lowest level in nearly thirty years during President Trump's first term – proof that we can both lower energy costs and ensure clean air and water for Americans, " remarked White House deputy press secretary Taylor Rogers.

"President Trump was given a mandate to roll back the radical climate policies that are burning a hole through taxpayers' wallets and jeopardizing the American Dream for future generations. The Administration is delivering while protecting our health and safety."

Catch up quick: The letter arrives as data centers face a growing backlash, and politicians from both parties are floating new restrictions on the industry.

Notably, the bottom line: The U.S. Can lead on AI, energy, and security "without asking children to carry more mercury in their bodies, more soot in their lungs, more heavy metals in their soil and food, or more contamination in their water, " the letter states. This story has been updated to include the White House response.

In short, MAHA warns Trump against coal is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.