Trump Invokes Defense Act for Energy Production

President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate domestic energy production and infrastructure projects, designating petroleum systems as essential to national security and authorizing federal funding to address supply vulnerabilities.

The action, announced Monday, includes five presidential determinations under the 1950 law, which empowers the government to direct private industry toward defense-related priorities. These cover domestic petroleum production, refining and logistics, as well as coal supply chains, liquefied natural gas facilities, energy-related infrastructure and the power grid. According to a White House official speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the public release, the measures enable the Department of Energy to deploy funding, loan guarantees and purchase commitments secured in last year's major tax and spending legislation. This support targets delays in financing, permitting and supply chains that have hindered projects such as coal-fired power plants, gas turbine manufacturing and critical electrical sites.

The initiative builds on Trump's January 2025 executive order, which declared the nation's insufficient energy...