The White House just released its long-awaited AI Action Plan. There is significant chatter about its broader implications; I’m just here to focus its infrastructure implications.

This action plan highlighted in the 28-page document is a clear, powerful message: The US wants to lead in AI not just through algorithms and models, but also by building the physical and digital infrastructure. To execute on that vision, other priorities are pushed aside — some with direct implications to infrastructure, others with indirect implications. Whether this plan reflects true speed to execute or purely political agenda is being debated. Aspects like sustainability will have significant direct implications to data centers and infrastructure alike if they come to pass; others may sway vendor selection and the marketplace depending on the values and LLM principles used to create offerings, which in turn will have infrastructure implications. However, it is likely that many of the actions and stances will face legal battles before any of these actions come into effect.

If you’re building, managing, or investing in AI, here are five infrastructure shifts from the plan that you need to keep an eye on:

  1. Data centers are now strategic assets. The plan puts AI data centers in the same league as semiconductor fabs and energy infrastructure. It pushes for: 1) fast-tracked permits; 2) streamlined (or skipped) environmental reviews; and 3) secure federal zones for sensitive workloads. Here’s what I’m seeing: If you’re in cloud or colocation, expect a wave of incentives and support — especially near power corridors. CIOs, it’s time to revisit your (or your providers’) location strategy. Although the news may seem to open up possibilities; there is a long road ahead before any of this truly comes to pass. Expect a lengthy process for this to pass and local pushback in these areas, which might delay timelines significantly. Ask yourself: Are your infrastructure/data center plans ready for national-level attention?
  2. AI needs a smarter energy backbone. AI isn’t just compute-intensive — it’s power-hungry. The federal government wants to modernize the grid, remove red tape for renewable power, and encourage energy-aware AI infrastructure. My take: Energy is now at the core of AI planning with potential changes in cost due to these regulations. Firms need to design AI systems by partnering with utilities, reducing carbon, and optimizing for sustainability, not just scale and performance.
  3. Compute access becomes a national asset. The plan aims to expand the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR), unlock federal compute for public research, and prioritize GPU access for strategic value, not just cost. Why it matters: Compute is now geopolitical. Whether you’re a cloud provider or a startup, you’ll need to think about how compute is provisioned, priced, and justified — and how open-source and public-good efforts will be prioritized.
  4. Security is core to AI and infrastructure. The Action Plan reframes AI misuse or collapse as a national cyber risk — not just a technical failure. CIOs must embed model governance, red-teaming, and failure response protocols into their infrastructure strategy. Treating AI resilience as part of your core infrastructure — not an afterthought — will be essential for enterprise trust and regulatory readiness. What this means: Security by design will be table stakes. Boards will start asking about your AI failure modes and how your infrastructure recovers from them, not just how models are trained.
  5. The White House wants to export AI infrastructure — globally. Perhaps the most strategic move: The US will support allies in building AI stacks aligned with US values and standards. That means exporting entire infrastructure patterns: data centers, safety frameworks, and control layers. Key takeaway: If your AI platform is going global, you’ll need to build with regulatory portability in mind. The rules of the US (and its allies) may soon define the bar for trusted infrastructure worldwide.

Infrastructure is the new first-mover advantage

Infrastructure used to be a backstage player not so long ago. Not anymore.

This action plan focuses on building the fastest, safest, and most scalable systems. It focuses on energy to data to trust to lead the AI race. The infrastructure you design today isn’t just enabling AI; it’s shaping its trajectory for years to come.

Whether you’re in the boardroom, data center, or a strategy role, now is the time to ask: Is our infrastructure AI-ready?

Want to discuss what this means for your infrastructure roadmap?

Let’s connect. Forrester clients can raise an inquiry/guidance session. I’d be happy to discuss this your team or speak at your next leadership meet.