Amazon engineers in Seattle slam employer for building AI data centers while laying off staffers

A collective of Amazon engineers gathered at a Seattle City Council meeting on Wednesday, expressing their concerns over the construction of large AI data centers in the city, especially as their employer is undergoing significant layoffs. Patrick Schloesser, a software engineer from Amazon Web Services, highlighted the disparity between Amazon’s capital expenditures and employee job security, stating, "This year, Amazon is allocating $200 billion for capital investments, primarily in data centers and AI, while simultaneously laying off 30,000 corporate staff in just eight months. This indicates a frantic push from Big Tech to expand computing capacity." The Seattle City Council has approved a one-year halt on new large AI data centers to facilitate the establishment of regulations for these developments. This decision follows proposals from four developers to construct five large-scale facilities, two of which have since been withdrawn due to public opposition, as reported by the Seattle Times. Seattle is joining the ranks of various cities and counties nationwide that are looking to impose restrictions on the rapid proliferation of AI data centers. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 14 states are currently considering legislation to either pause or prohibit new data centers. A report from Data Center Watch indicated that in 2025, at least $156 billion in data center projects faced delays or were blocked due to local resistance and legal challenges. Despite the push for regulation, major tech companies are not slowing down. Amazon, Microsoft, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Meta have pledged around $700 billion in capital expenditures this year, predominantly for AI infrastructure. At the same time, these companies are seeking ways to reduce expenses, resulting in significant layoffs. The layoffs at Amazon that Schloesser referenced were part of a strategy by CEO Andy Jassy to streamline operations, aiming to transform the company into what he describes as the "world's largest startup." In February, Amazon reaffirmed its commitment to invest $200 billion in capital expenditures for AI infrastructure. Schloesser, alongside fellow engineers Liesl Wigand and Darius Irani, who are also part of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, urged city officials to require developers to commit to renewable energy for their data centers and to eliminate the use of non-disclosure agreements when announcing new projects. "It’s crucial to create quality jobs in these initiatives and to impose a tax that supports city employment whenever there are substantial layoffs," he asserted. Wigand, with over 12 years at Amazon, described the company’s approach to AI as an "all-costs-justified build-out." She expressed concern about the prevailing mindset that views AI as the solution to every problem, often overlooking the environmental and resource implications. "This perspective is prevalent in the tech industry, making it essential for local governments and community stakeholders to dictate the terms of data center development," she urged. The council's Land Use and Sustainability Committee unanimously approved the one-year moratorium to ensure thoughtful consideration of future developments.