The U.S. Justice Department has stepped into a legal battle, filing motions to block a private lawsuit that seeks to shut down a massive artificial intelligence facility in Southaven, Mississippi.
The actions, taken yesterday by the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), side with xAI and its subsidiary, MZX Tech LLC. Private citizens brought the lawsuit, alleging that the facility’s power source violates Clean Air Act permitting requirements. However, the State of Mississippi—the government entity responsible for running the state’s permitting program—had already officially determined that no permit was required.
Federal officials argue the lawsuit threatens critical infrastructure. The Southaven data center trains and develops new AI models used by both the civilian economy and the Department of War. The private plaintiffs are seeking damages and an injunction to halt operations, which the DOJ warns would cut off critical power during an energy emergency and hinder national defense.
“Ultimate responsibility for enforcing federal law belongs to the Executive Branch, not private interest groups,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “The Department of Justice is committed to maintaining that constitutional order while protecting national security and promoting American energy and innovation.”
The federal intervention points to a recently issued executive order by President Donald J. Trump, titled “Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security.” The order directs federal agencies, committees, and officials to prioritize AI development and security across the government.
According to government filings, the Clean Air Act grants the federal government the authority to intervene in citizen-led lawsuits, while the U.S. Constitution gives the president the responsibility to enforce laws and exercise enforcement discretion in the national interest. The DOJ maintains that overly burdensome regulations and private enforcement actions risk stalling technological growth and threatening energy independence.
“The Department of Justice will not sit idly by while private organizations use environmental laws to undermine our national security,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the ENRD. “This case reflects the important work of the Environment and Natural Resources Division to unleash American energy for the sake of innovation and security.”
The ENRD has formally requested that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi dismiss the lawsuit entirely.
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