Federal bill orders fast study of liquid cooling for AI data centers
Officially: Liquid Cooling for AI Act of 2025
The bill orders a federal review of liquid cooling in AI and other high-powered data centers. It looks at cost, energy use, safety, security, and waste-heat reuse. The bill itself does not require anyone to switch cooling systems.
Where it stands
Energy and Natural Resources · Hearing Wed, Apr 15
In 4 days. Members are taking positions right now.
- GAO must start this review within 30 days after the bill becomes law. The review focuses on liquid cooling in data centers.
- GAO must study what new research is needed, what the market looks like, and what rules affect these systems. The focus is AI and other high-performance computing facilities.
- GAO must compare the main liquid-cooling setups. That includes direct-to-chip versus immersion cooling, and single-phase versus two-phase systems, at different density levels for performance, safety, and lifetime cost.
↓ Why your message matters here
Members are still deciding how to vote — and what they hear from constituents in these final days is what tips undecided ones.
The debate
What people are saying about this bill
- Congress and federal agencies would get independent technical facts before spending large sums on AI data centers and cooling systems. That could lead to better decisions.
- More efficient cooling could cut data-center power use and slow the need for new power plants or grid upgrades. The study could help identify which approaches save the most energy.
- Studying leaks, pump failures, and other breakdowns could make liquid cooling safer and more reliable. Sharing ways to prevent or handle those failures could help operators avoid costly problems.
- The bill studies one part of the problem instead of directly limiting the overall growth in data-center energy use. Some people may see that as too small a response.
- GAO and the Department of Energy would get new reporting and coordination duties. That could stretch staff time or pull attention from other work.
- The bill centers on liquid cooling instead of looking equally at other ways to improve efficiency or reliability. Some critics may see that as tilting toward one technology.
Where this bill is in the process
Legislative timeline
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Senate Committee
Under Senate committee consideration
Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (11/20/2025)
Senate Floor Vote
Voted on by Senate
Passed Senate
Approved by Senate
House Review
Sent to House for consideration
Passed Both Chambers
Approved by both House and Senate
Signed into Law
Signed by the President
For more detail