OpenAI is making a direct pitch to the federal government, arguing that the country’s lead in artificial intelligence hinges on building massive new infrastructure—and that the clock is ticking. In a proposal submitted to the Department of Energy today, the company laid out a vision where DOE-owned land becomes the foundation for AI supercomputing hubs, urging an investment posture that matches the urgency of a new space race.
The document frames AI as a foundational technology akin to electricity, one that can drive a full-scale reindustrialization of the United States. OpenAI warns that hundreds of billions of dollars in global investment are currently waiting on the sidelines. If American permitting and partnership processes move too slowly, that capital will simply flow to projects backed by nations that do not share democratic values. The proposal specifically calls for streamlined permitting, including categorical exclusions for repeatable deployments and even emergency exemptions where warranted.
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. The submission follows OpenAI’s launch of the Stargate project, a massive infrastructure undertaking with its first campus already under construction in Abilene, Texas. The company is also touting its deep ties with national labs, pointing to a multi-year partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory announced in January. LANL Director Thom Mason called the collaboration “a watershed moment for mission science,” a signal that pairing private-sector models with public scientific talent is a core part of the strategy.
The proposal also takes a historical view, comparing the moment to the rural electrification efforts of the 1930s. OpenAI argues that a purely top-down approach back then left gaps that still affect rural communities, and that ensuring truly nationwide AI access and literacy is the most vital infrastructure of all. The underlying message is clear: the federal government needs to act as a fast-moving partner, not a slow-moving regulator, to keep America in the lead.
