---
title: "White House drops data centers from critical tech list"
url: https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/white-house-drops-data-centers-from-critical-tech-list-499847
source_name: "Tom's Hardware"
source_url: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/white-house-cuts-data-centers-batteries-and-ar-from-the-us-critical-technology-list
published: 2026-08-19T09:24:59.000Z
topics: ["policy", "infrastructure"]
publisher: "Parallel Quant"
---

# White House drops data centers from critical tech list

*2026-08-19 · Source: [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/white-house-cuts-data-centers-batteries-and-ar-from-the-us-critical-technology-list)*

The White House removed data centers, batteries, and augmented reality from the US critical and emerging technologies list, its first rewrite since February 2024. New additions include post-quantum cryptography, integrated photonics, and high-entropy alloys.

**Why it matters:** Removal from this list can affect which technologies get prioritized for federal funding, export controls, and national security review, so dropping data centers is a notable signal about how Washington is now framing AI infrastructure. It suggests policymakers see data centers as commoditized infrastructure rather than a strategic technology needing special protection.

**Topics:** policy, infrastructure

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Read the original: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/white-house-cuts-data-centers-batteries-and-ar-from-the-us-critical-technology-list
Canonical: https://www.parallelquant.com/posts/white-house-drops-data-centers-from-critical-tech-list-499847
Published by Parallel Quant — https://www.parallelquant.com