On April 20, 2026, Trump signed five presidential determinations invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 for the entire fossil fuel chain — petroleum production/refining/logistics, coal-fired power generation, natural gas/LNG, electric grid infrastructure, and large-scale energy infrastructure. This is the most expansive use of the DPA for fossil fuels in American history.
Under Section 303, the Energy Department can provide direct financial support, loan guarantees, purchase commitments, and other incentives to expand fossil fuel production — effectively a wartime subsidy for the oil, gas, and coal industries.
Trump cited AI as justification for coal: “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.” He cited the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruption for petroleum.
Public Citizen's Tyson Slocum: “President Trump is abusing emergency authorities and wasting taxpayer resources through unprecedented abuse of the Defense Production Act to promote his politically favored fossil fuel projects at the expense of energy affordability and common sense.”
Common Dreams called it “a wish list for oil, gas, and coal industries.” The Roosevelt Institute argued the DPA could instead promote all-of-the-above energy abundance.
This is Trump's third DPA invocation for fossil fuel interests: glyphosate (February 19), Pentagon coal (February 11), and now this comprehensive five-determination package.