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AWS to drop NDAs with U.S. agencies on data centers

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 2:03 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

AWS Halts NDAs

AWS will stop using nondisclosure agreements with U.S. government agencies on data-center projects.
CEO Matt Garman announced a Built Together program worth $1 billion over five years.
The program will fund community-college degrees, job-training, and upgrades for 300,000 students, 25 centers by 2028, and 30,000 homes.
Garman warned that over 100 moratoriums could hurt U.S. AI competitiveness, and a poll shows 62% oppose new data centers.

Summary

AWS Advances Sustainability

AWS reported a 2025 global Power Usage Effectiveness ratio of 1.14.
AWS says its average data center uses under 13,000 gallons of water daily.
AWS has completed 75% of work toward its water-positive goal by 2030.
New sites will use backup generators meeting EPA Tier 4 emissions standards.
Amazon contributed more than $1 billion to U.S. communities where it has a meaningful data-center presence.

History

Historical Context

The EPA’s 2007 Energy Star Data Center program introduced the power-usage-effectiveness (PUE) metric, which then averaged 2.0 for U.S. facilities. Federal rules such as the 2015 Energy Efficiency Improvement Act later pushed data centers toward the 1.2-range typical of hyperscale sites. AWS’s $1 billion Built Together plan and its 2025 PUE target of 1.14 echo that regulatory legacy.

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AWS Halts NDAs

AWS will stop using nondisclosure agreements with U.S. government agencies on data-center projects.
CEO Matt Garman announced a Built Together program worth $1 billion over five years.
The program will fund community-college degrees, job-training, and upgrades for 300,000 students, 25 centers by 2028, and 30,000 homes.
Garman warned that over 100 moratoriums could hurt U.S. AI competitiveness, and a poll shows 62% oppose new data centers.

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