Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a halt on data center permits, according to CNBC, just weeks after he issued a moratorium on such projects. The back-to-back actions signal that data center development has become a major policy battleground in the state.
The issue is now intertwined with the 2026 midterm elections. Abbott's reelection campaign is set to face Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, and data centers have emerged as a flash point in the race.
The source report does not specify the reasons for the permit halt or how long it will last, but it makes clear that the governor is using executive action to slow data center growth in Texas.