Date and action: On February 11, 2026, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order on coal power and national defense.
Policy declaration: The order states it is U.S. policy that coal is essential to national and economic security and cites a declared national energy emergency.
Agency direction: The Secretary of War, with the Secretary of Energy, is instructed to seek long-term Power Purchase Agreements or similar contracts with coal-fired generation facilities to serve DOW and mission-critical installations.
Priorities for contracts: Projects should prioritize grid reliability and blackout prevention, on-site fuel security, and mission assurance for defense and intelligence capabilities.
Legal and budgetary limits: Implementation must be consistent with applicable law, subject to available appropriations, and does not create enforceable rights against the U.S. government.
References to prior orders: The order cites Executive Orders 14261, 14262 (both dated April 8, 2025), and Executive Order 14156 (Jan 20, 2025) as authority and context.
Follow Up Questions
What is the "Department of War (DOW)" referenced in the order, and is it the same as the Department of Defense?Expand
The order’s reference to the “Department of War (DOW)” reflects the administration’s re-designation/secondary-title policy in a September 5, 2025 White House executive order that authorized using “Department of War”/“Secretary of War” as alternate, non‑statutory titles for the Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense. It is not a statutory name change: federal law (Title 10) still establishes and refers to the Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense. In short, the DOW label in the coal order is an administrative/title usage; the legal department remains the Department of Defense unless Congress amends the law.