Dingell Continues Demands for Transparency from University of Michigan on Los Alamos Project

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) requested a full public disclosure of the underlying agreement between the University of Michigan (U-M) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) regarding their proposed joint research computing center in Ypsilanti Township. In a letter to U-M leadership, Congresswoman Dingell channeled the frustrations she has heard from her constituents about the minimal information the community has received about the agreement between U-M and LANL. “Despite the size, scale, and significance of this project, the public has received minimal information about the actual agreement between U-M and LANL, including the legal authority for LANL’s proposed contribution, the source and status of the funds, and the conditions governing any financial commitment. There is an important distinction between an agreement stating that LANL may contribute $300 million and an executed federal appropriation, contract, or other federal financial instrument that has obligated taxpayer dollars for this facility. The public deserves clarity about that distinction and should not have to rely on conflicting or incomplete descriptions of the project’s federal funding,” Congresswoman Dingell wrote. “Given the continued lack of transparency and the significance of the community concerns surrounding this project, I ask that U-M make the underlying agreement publicly available so that Ypsilanti Township residents and local officials can better understand the proposed data center’s structure, funding, and accountability. I also urge U-M to provide clear answers to the following questions.” The letter follows several oversight efforts led by Congresswoman Dingell demanding answers and transparency on the project for her constituents. This month, Congresswoman Dingell expressed her opposition to the Los Alamos Project and called on congress to enact comprehensive guardrails for large scale AI and data-center development. In June 2026, the congresswoman urged leaders at U-M and Los Alamos National Laboratory to respond to Ypsilanti Township community concerns directly and decisively regarding the proposed project. In August 2026, Congresswoman Dingell released a statement criticizing the selection of Ypsilanti Township as the site for the controversial project and called on U-M leadership to fully address the long-standing concerns of residents at its September town hall. A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below: Dear President Grasso: This letter is to follow up the ongoing concerns surrounding the proposed University of Michigan-Los Alamos National Laboratory research computing center in Ypsilanti Township and to request additional information regarding the agreement between the University of Michigan (U-M) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to develop this site. I remain deeply frustrated by the lack of transparency, accountability, and meaningful communication surrounding this project. U-M and LANL have continued progress on this data center despite substantial and strong community opposition. Residents have spent years seeking answers about the project’s potential effects on water, electricity, noise, the environment, property values, and quality of life, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the entities involved. The community has been left to piece together information rather than receive clear answers from the institutions responsible for the project. These concerns were particularly evident at U-M’s September 9, 2026, town hall, where residents expressed significant distrust regarding the U-M’s handling of the project. U-M itself acknowledged hearing “enormous anger” and “enormous distrust” from the community. This level of frustration underscores the need for a more transparent and accountable approach moving forward. The community must be treated as a meaningful partner in decisions that will affect its future, not as an afterthought. U-M’s limited public information about the project’s financing and institutional arrangements is concerning. According to current project information, the proposed $1.25 billion facility would involve $300 million from LANL, $850 million from U-M, and $100 million in Strategic Site Readiness Program grant funding from the State of Michigan. The state has also indicated that the LANL facility would conduct federally funded research involving national security, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and energy security. Despite the size, scale, and significance of this project, the public has received minimal information about the actual agreement between U-M and LANL, including the legal authority for LANL’s proposed contribution, the source and status of the funds, and the conditions governing any financial commitment. There is an important distinction between an agreement stating that LANL may contribute $300 million and an executed federal appropriation, contract, or other federal financial instrument that has obligated taxpayer dollars for this facility. The public deserves clarity about that distinction and should not have to rely on conflicting or incomplete descriptions of the project’s federal funding. Given the continued lack of transparency and the significance of the community concerns surrounding this project, I ask that U-M make the underlying agreement publicly available so that Ypsilanti Township residents and local officials can better understand the proposed data center’s structure, funding, and accountability. I also urge U-M to provide clear answers to the following questions: 1. What is the date of the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop this data center? 2. Which parties signed this agreement? 3. Is this agreement legally binding? 4. Have any federal dollars been appropriated for this project? 5. Have any federal dollars been obligated for this project? 6. Have any federal dollars been transferred for this project? 7. What legal authority allows Los Alamos National Laboratory to make the proposed $300 million contribution towards this project? 8. Has the Department of Energy approved or authorized the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory? 9. What conditions must be met before funding is put towards this project? 10. Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on site selection? 11. Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on environmental approvals? 12. Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on other regulatory approvals? 13. What happens to this commitment if this project is delayed, changed, or cancelled? 14. Who is responsible for cost overruns? 15. Does this agreement include any federal guarantees or commitments? 16. Is there a federal contract, cooperative agreement, grant agreement, memorandum of understanding, or federal instrument associated with this data center agreement or proposed data center? Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your timely response and to U-M’s cooperation in providing the transparency and information the community deserves. What is the date of the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop this data center? Which parties signed this agreement? Is this agreement legally binding? Have any federal dollars been appropriated for this project? Have any federal dollars been obligated for this project? Have any federal dollars been transferred for this project? What legal authority allows Los Alamos National Laboratory to make the proposed $300 million contribution towards this project? Has the Department of Energy approved or authorized the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory? What conditions must be met before funding is put towards this project? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on site selection? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on environmental approvals? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on other regulatory approvals? What happens to this commitment if this project is delayed, changed, or cancelled? Who is responsible for cost overruns? Does this agreement include any federal guarantees or commitments? Is there a federal contract, cooperative agreement, grant agreement, memorandum of understanding, or federal instrument associated with this data center agreement or proposed data center? What is the date of the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop this data center? Which parties signed this agreement? Is this agreement legally binding? Have any federal dollars been appropriated for this project? Have any federal dollars been obligated for this project? Have any federal dollars been transferred for this project? What legal authority allows Los Alamos National Laboratory to make the proposed $300 million contribution towards this project? Has the Department of Energy approved or authorized the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory? What conditions must be met before funding is put towards this project? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on site selection? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on environmental approvals? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on other regulatory approvals? What happens to this commitment if this project is delayed, changed, or cancelled? Who is responsible for cost overruns? Does this agreement include any federal guarantees or commitments? Is there a federal contract, cooperative agreement, grant agreement, memorandum of understanding, or federal instrument associated with this data center agreement or proposed data center? What is the date of the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop this data center? Which parties signed this agreement? Is this agreement legally binding? Have any federal dollars been appropriated for this project? Have any federal dollars been obligated for this project? Have any federal dollars been transferred for this project? What legal authority allows Los Alamos National Laboratory to make the proposed $300 million contribution towards this project? Has the Department of Energy approved or authorized the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory? What conditions must be met before funding is put towards this project? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on site selection? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on environmental approvals? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on other regulatory approvals? What happens to this commitment if this project is delayed, changed, or cancelled? Who is responsible for cost overruns? Does this agreement include any federal guarantees or commitments? Is there a federal contract, cooperative agreement, grant agreement, memorandum of understanding, or federal instrument associated with this data center agreement or proposed data center? What is the date of the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop this data center? Which parties signed this agreement? Is this agreement legally binding? Have any federal dollars been appropriated for this project? Have any federal dollars been obligated for this project? Have any federal dollars been transferred for this project? What legal authority allows Los Alamos National Laboratory to make the proposed $300 million contribution towards this project? Has the Department of Energy approved or authorized the agreement between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory? What conditions must be met before funding is put towards this project? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on site selection? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on environmental approvals? Was Los Alamos National Laboratory’s commitment to contribute $300 million contingent on other regulatory approvals? What happens to this commitment if this project is delayed, changed, or cancelled? Who is responsible for cost overruns? Does this agreement include any federal guarantees or commitments? Is there a federal contract, cooperative agreement, grant agreement, memorandum of understanding, or federal instrument associated with this data center agreement or proposed data center?