Trump Uses Defense Production Act to Push Fossil Fuels and Grid Control Under National Security Guise

The Trump administration is aggressively expanding the use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to treat energy infrastructure as a national defense priority. Over the past few months, a flurry of executive actions have handed the Department of Energy sweeping powers to direct contracts and production for energy supply chains under DPA Title I and Title III authorities.

At first glance, invoking the DPA to fix supply chain bottlenecks in critical grid components like transformers and breakers might seem like a necessary step to modernize America’s aging power infrastructure. The administration claims that shortages and long lead times threaten national defense, and that only government intervention can fix these vulnerabilities.

But a closer look reveals a much broader and more troubling agenda. Alongside grid equipment, Trump’s presidential memoranda explicitly target fossil fuel infrastructure—natural gas, coal, petroleum production, refining, and logistics. These sectors are being fast-tracked under the guise of “national energy emergency,” a declaration made through Executive Order 14156 that conveniently excludes renewable sources like wind and solar.

This approach is a clear signal that the administration intends to double down on fossil fuels rather than invest in sustainable energy solutions. The “large-scale energy and energy-related infrastructure” category acts as a catch-all to funnel resources to projects that align with this fossil fuel-first agenda.

The DPA grants the President extraordinary powers to compel private companies to prioritize government contracts, expand domestic production, and funnel federal funds into targeted industries. But these powers come with serious risks. They can bypass Congress, concentrate decision-making in the executive branch, and enable cronyism under the banner of national security.

Despite the urgency imposed by the memoranda, the Trump administration has yet to clarify how it will coordinate, staff, or fund these sweeping initiatives. The only potential funding source identified is leftover money from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), but details on allocations remain murky.

This expansion of the DPA under Trump is not just about fixing supply chains—it’s about reshaping the U.S. energy landscape in ways that deepen fossil fuel dependence, undermine clean energy progress, and concentrate power in the hands of an administration willing to sidestep democratic processes.

As the U.S. faces geopolitical tensions and climate crises, the stakes are high. The Trump administration’s DPA gambit demands close scrutiny and accountability to ensure that national security rhetoric does not mask authoritarian overreach and environmental recklessness.