The White House says it no longer considers data storage and data centers 'critical' technology

Date:
Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:25:00 +0000

Description:
An update to the USs National Security Science & Technology Strategy has redefined its reliance on data centers in light of emerging technologies.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The US government has issued a revision to its National Security Science & Technology Strategy Among various changes is the reduced focus on high-performance data storage and data
centers Instead, emerging technologies are given greater prominence, while data storage and data centers feature within the documents information management priorities The US government has updated its National Security Science & Technology Strategy (NSSTS), an annual directive that ensures the United States national security strategy is supported across various dimensions. This time, however, a curious revision has been made, one that appears to relegate the significance of high-performance data storage and datacenters.

Previously, these installations have been highly regarded and appeared on the documents list of "Critical and Emerging Technologies." With the latest revision, however, other technologies appear to have supplanted data centers. Traditionally, the National Security Strategy (NSS), published annually, includes the science and technology element. Under the Trump administration, however, the NSSTS has been released as a companion to the NSS report. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Relegated data centers? An initial reading of the NSSTS suggests the relevance of data centers and high-performance data storage has been reduced.

The document, which provides information to support the nations economic security, science, research, and innovation to support the national security strategy, focuses on S&T competition as it relates to military capabilities, homeland defense and resilience, and other direct intersections with national security. You may like As data center worries grow, here is every US state which is fighting back against new buildings UK government gives data centers the ability to skirt building regulations Trump warns communities opposed to data centers are making a mistake but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says data centers got the backlash they deserve

This assists in decision-making surrounding federal funding, informs partnerships in the private sector, and joint projects with allies. Significantly, it also underpins US policies on exports of critical technology.

While the importance of data centers and high-performance data storage
appears to have been demoted, it appears that the NSSTS is simply refocusing. The updated documents information management and cybersecurity list includes data management, including storage and security, which seems to cover the apparent omission. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
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Instead, the document focuses on "transformative emerging technologies,"
which include artificial intelligence, autonomy, biotechnology, and quantum information technologies. "Foreign adversaries" The NSS and NSSTS are by definition documents that outline a roadmap for economic security. Shifts in priorities are not unusual, such as an aim to keep foreign adversaries out of critical technology systems and supply chains.

This would seem to refer mainly to China, and the challenges that some Chinese-manufactured wireless communications hardware has brought, something that has seen the FCC apparently working overtime.

Within the NSSTS we can see a reaction to some of this, notably an ambition
of Prioritizing homeshoring and domestic product development, which the Trump Administration is advancing by promoting balanced trade, facilitating reindustrialization, unleashing energy dominance, advancing novel material substitution for critical components, and working with suppliers from trusted partners.

Data centers and high-performance data storage easily fit within those aimsthey're just less specific than in previous editions of the NSSTS. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-white-house-says-it-no-longer-considers-data -storage-and-data-centers-critical-technology


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