Why It Matters
Louisiana’s practice of requiring elected officials to sign nondisclosure agreements before learning details of major economic development projects has drawn scrutiny from residents and transparency advocates. The policy, which has expanded significantly under Gov. Jeff Landry, restricts what public officials can share with constituents about large-scale investments that may directly affect their communities — including projects involving billions of dollars in public incentives and significant local infrastructure impacts.
The use of NDAs in Louisiana’s economic development process raises questions about the balance between protecting competitive business negotiations and the public’s right to know how their elected representatives are engaging with major decisions that shape land use, utility demand, and community resources.
What Happened
On February 23, 2026, Gov. Jeff Landry announced that Amazon would invest $12 billion to build multiple artificial intelligence data center campuses in Shreveport and Bossier Parish in northwest Louisiana. Landry described the project as the largest investment in the history of the region.
Prior to the announcement, the identity of the company and the scope of the project had been kept confidential through nondisclosure agreements signed by local and state officials. Residents who sought information from their elected representatives — including city, parish, and state officials — were told nothing, because those officials were legally bound not to disclose what they knew.
Abigail Whittington, a Shreveport resident, said she heard rumors of a data center coming to her community in November 2025 and began asking questions of elected officials, including her mayor and state legislators from both Bossier and Caddo parishes. None provided answers. She learned the details only when the public announcement was made in February 2026.
Records obtained by the Gulf States Newsroom and Type Investigations from Louisiana Economic Development — the state agency overseeing business recruitment — reveal that at least 50 public officials have signed NDAs since Landry took office. At least one official from every single parish in Louisiana has signed an agreement under the current administration.
By the Numbers
- $12 billion — Amazon’s announced investment in AI data center campuses in Shreveport and Bossier Parish, described as the largest in Northwest Louisiana history
- 50+ — Minimum number of public officials who have signed NDAs with Louisiana Economic Development since Gov. Landry took office
- 0 — Number of elected officials who signed NDAs with Louisiana Economic Development during the final four years of former Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration
- 64 — Number of Louisiana parishes, each of which has had at least one official sign an NDA under the current administration
- 3+ months — Approximate window during which Shreveport-area residents were unable to obtain information about the Amazon project despite direct inquiries to their elected officials
Zoom Out
The use of NDAs in economic development is not unique to Louisiana, but its application to elected officials — rather than just agency staff or private sector intermediaries — represents a notable expansion of the practice. Across the United States, states compete aggressively to attract large-scale investments in data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and other high-capital industries, often offering substantial tax incentives and utility agreements in exchange.
Data centers in particular have become a focal point of economic development activity nationwide, driven by surging demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure. States including Virginia, Georgia, and Texas have attracted hundreds of billions in data center investment in recent years, frequently through processes that involve confidential site selection negotiations.
Critics of NDA practices in economic development argue that secrecy can limit public input on projects with significant environmental and infrastructure consequences, particularly regarding electricity and water consumption. Supporters contend that confidentiality is necessary to prevent competing states or localities from undercutting deal terms before agreements are finalized.
What’s Next
The Amazon data center project in Shreveport and Bossier Parish is expected to move forward with construction timelines to be announced as agreements are formalized. Louisiana Economic Development has not publicly outlined whether the current NDA policy will be revised or subject to legislative review.
Transparency advocates and some residents are expected to press for clearer guidelines on when and how elected officials may be bound to confidentiality agreements in connection with publicly subsidized development projects. Whether the Louisiana Legislature will take up the question of NDA use in the upcoming session remains to be seen.