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Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Coal Supply Chains and Baseload Power Generation Capacity

SignedApril 20, 2026
Memorandum·Donald Trump·Energy
Why This Matters

The President has determined that coal supply chains and baseload power generation are essential to national defense and will take action to expand these capabilities.

This means the government will invest in coal mining, logistics, and power generation to ensure a stable electricity supply for national security.
Workers in the coal industry, energy companies, and defense installations that rely on stable power sources will be directly impacted.
What You Need to Know

The President has declared that coal supply chains and baseload power generation are critical for national defense. This determination allows for government action to expand these capabilities, including investments in coal mining, transportation, and power generation facilities. The government will also waive certain regulatory requirements to expedite these efforts, ensuring that the U.S. can maintain a stable electricity supply necessary for defense and emerging technologies.

This action responds to concerns about the current energy supply's inadequacy, which poses risks to the economy and national security. The previous executive order emphasized that the U.S. faces threats from insufficient energy production and intermittent supply, making it vulnerable to foreign adversaries. By addressing these issues, the government aims to bolster energy resilience and support the country's defense needs.

Next steps involve the Secretary of Energy implementing this determination, which includes making necessary purchases and financial commitments to enhance coal supply and power generation. The government will publish this determination in the Federal Register to inform the public and stakeholders about the actions being taken.

Who is affected?

Workers in the coal industry, energy companies, and defense installations that rely on stable power sources will be directly impacted.

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Presidential Actions

Presidential Determination Pursuant to
Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Coal Supply Chains and Baseload Power Generation Capacity

Presidential Memoranda

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY

SUBJECT:       Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Coal Supply Chains and Baseload Power Generation Capacity

On January 20, 2025, I issued Executive Order 14156 (Declaring a National Energy Emergency), under the National Emergencies Act.  That order found that America’s inadequate energy production, transportation, refining, and generation capacity constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the Nation’s economy, national security, and foreign policy.  It emphasized that our Nation’s current inadequate and intermittent energy supply leaves us vulnerable to hostile foreign actors and poses an imminent and growing threat to the United States’ prosperity and national security.

Consistent with that declaration, I find that ensuring reliable coal supply chains and baseload power generation capacity is essential to United States national defense.  Coal mining and logistics, terminals, stockpile, and power generation facilities provide indispensable resilience to our power grids that cannot be replaced.  Without sufficient coal-fired baseload power, the United States will lack the stable electricity required to support defense installations, industrial expansion, and the high-energy demands of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (the “Act”) (50 U.S.C. 4533), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 303(a)(5) of the Act, that:

(1)  coal supply chains and baseload power generation capacity, including coal mining, rail and barge logistics, export and domestic terminals, generating unit availability and life-extension work, on-site stockpiles, and associated reliability updates, are industrial resources, materials, or critical technology items essential to the national defense;

(2)  without Presidential action under section 303 of the Act, United States industry cannot reasonably be expected to provide these capabilities for the needed industrial resource, material, or critical technology item in a timely manner due to financing constraints, regulatory delays, long-lead maintenance, expensive and bespoke repair cycles, and market barriers; and

(3)  purchases, purchase commitments, financial support for the development of production capabilities, or other action pursuant to section 303 of the Act are the most cost-effective, expedient, and practical alternative methods for meeting this need.

I have declared a national emergency under Executive Order 14156, and I further determine that action to expand coal supply chain capacity and baseload generation availability is necessary to avert an industrial resource or critical technology item shortfall that would severely impair national defense capability.  Therefore, pursuant to section 303(a)(7) of the Act, I waive the requirements of section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) of the Act for the purpose of expanding such capability.

You are authorized and directed to implement this determination, including making necessary purchases, commitments, and financial instruments to enable these projects, and to publish this determination in the Federal Register.

DONALD J. TRUMP

Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Coal Supply Chains and Baseload Power Generation Capacity — PILLARS