Cherokee Nation EO 2026-02-CTH — Data Center Impact Task Force
Cherokee Nation (OK) · Cherokee Nation Executive Order 2026-02-CTH (Feb. 24, 2026)
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed Executive Order 2026-02-CTH on February 24, 2026, establishing a nine-member task force to study the environmental and economic impacts of data center development on the Cherokee Nation Reservation. The task force — formally titled the 'Principal Chief's Task Force to Study the Impact of Data Centers on the Economy and Natural Environment of the Cherokee Nation Reservation' — is led by Secretary of Natural Resources Christina Justice, with Chief of Staff Dr. Corey Bunch serving as co-chair and CIO Paula Starr as a member. The task force was charged with assessing the current and projected scope of data center construction on the 7,000-square-mile reservation, environmental concerns (including water and energy impacts), economic opportunities and detriments for citizens, and tribal and state/federal policy advocacy options. The report was due to Principal Chief Hoskin by June 30, 2026; its public release has not been confirmed as of July 11, 2026.
Technical detail
Cherokee Nation Executive Order 2026-02-CTH (Feb. 24, 2026) creates the 9-member 'Principal Chief's Task Force to Study the Impact of Data Centers on the Economy and Natural Environment of the Cherokee Nation Reservation.' Chair: Secretary of Natural Resources Christina Justice. Co-Chair: Dr. Corey Bunch (Cherokee Nation Chief of Staff). Member: Paula Starr (CIO). Total: 9 members. Charges: (1) assess present and future data-center development across the 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation Reservation; (2) identify environmental concerns (water, energy, noise, land use); (3) evaluate economic opportunities and detriments for Cherokee citizens; (4) identify barriers/opportunities for mitigation; (5) recommend state and federal policy advocacy options. Report deadline: June 30, 2026. Distinct from EO 2024-07-CTH (Data Sovereignty and Governance Task Force, July 2024) which produced the 2025 Cherokee Nation AI Policy, and distinct from cherokee-nation-ai-policy-2025.
Who is protected: Cherokee Nation citizens and Cherokee Nation Reservation natural environment
Who must comply: Cherokee Nation government agencies and task force members; resulting recommendations may guide data-center approvals on tribal land
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Cherokee Nation (OK) |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2026-02-24 |
| Enacted | 2026-02-24 |
| Citation | Cherokee Nation Executive Order 2026-02-CTH (Feb. 24, 2026) |
| Enforced by | Cherokee Nation Office of the Principal Chief |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI · AI disclosure and transparency |
| Last verified | 2026-07-11 |
| Official source | Cherokee Nation EO 2026-02-CTH — Data Center Impact Task Force (Cherokee Nation official PDF) ↗ |
More AI rules in Cherokee Nation (OK)
- Cherokee Nation AI Policy · In effect
- Cherokee Nation EO 2024-07-CTH · In effect
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- SB 484 (FL Data Center Costs) · In effect
- Maine Data Center Moratorium (vetoed) · Vetoed
- VA Data Center Siting Bill (Vetoed) · Vetoed
- VA Data Center Tax Exemption · In effect
- VA Data Center Cost-Allocation Law · In effect
- Texas SB 6 (Data Center Grid Law) · In effect
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