Trump Weaponizes Defense Budget for Coal Industry

President Trump has signed an executive order requiring the U.S. military to purchase electricity from coal-fired power plants, marking a dramatic reversal of the previous administration’s energy policies and directly tying national defense to America’s coal industry.

Story Highlights

Executive order signed February 11, 2026, directs Department of War to establish long-term power purchase agreements with coal-fired plants
$175 million in funding allocated to upgrade coal plants across five states, preserving over 450 jobs at Tennessee facilities
Coal production increased by nearly 4 million tons per month since Trump took office, with power generation up 15% in first year
Administration frames coal as essential to military readiness and grid reliability, citing baseload power needs during emergencies

Executive Order Links Military Readiness to Coal Power

President Trump signed the executive order “Strengthening United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet” at a White House ceremony on February 11, 2026. The directive instructs the Secretary of War, coordinating with the Secretary of Energy, to approve long-term Power Purchase Agreements with coal-fired facilities supplying electricity to military installations and defense-critical infrastructure. Trump declared coal “the most reliable, dependable form of energy,” asserting it would provide cost savings while delivering superior effectiveness compared to current energy sources for military operations.

Funding and Job Preservation Measures

The administration allocated $175 million through the Department of Energy to fund upgrades at six coal plants located in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Tennessee Valley Authority is moving forward with plans to preserve the Cumberland Fossil Plant and Kingston Fossil Plant in Tennessee, directly protecting over 450 jobs in those communities. These measures represent a tangible commitment to coal-dependent regions that suffered under previous administrations’ regulatory restrictions, which prioritized renewable energy mandates over reliable baseload power and economic stability for American workers.

Coal Industry Metrics Show Reversal of Decline

Since Trump assumed office in January 2025, coal production has increased by nearly 4 million tons per month, reversing decades of industry contraction driven by federal regulations and competition from subsidized renewables. Coal power generation rose by approximately 15% during Trump’s first year, while mining permits exceeded 70 approvals in the same period. These figures demonstrate the administration’s success in removing regulatory barriers that strangled domestic energy production. The policy follows Trump’s April 2025 executive orders designating coal as a mineral and opening millions of acres of public lands for coal leasing, establishing the foundation for sustained industry growth.

National Security Justification for Coal Reliance

The executive order explicitly prioritizes grid reliability, blackout prevention, on-site fuel security, and defense mission assurance as criteria for power purchase agreements. Administration officials cite recent winter storms affecting over 200 million Americans across 35 states as evidence of coal’s reliability when intermittent renewable sources failed to deliver consistent power. Trump criticized wind energy as unreliable and dependent on Chinese manufacturing, contrasting it with domestically abundant coal that provides continuous, on-demand electricity essential for military operations during natural disasters or wartime contingencies. This approach recognizes that national defense cannot depend on weather-dependent energy sources that leave installations vulnerable during critical moments.

“We’re going to be buying a lot of coal through the military now.”

President Trump signs an executive order directing the Department of War to strike long-term coal power deals, calling it key to grid reliability and national security.https://t.co/QILdSFjrTf

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 12, 2026

The initiative represents a clear rejection of the previous administration’s climate-focused energy policies that prioritized ideological goals over practical military needs and economic realities. By leveraging military procurement power to sustain coal infrastructure, Trump has created a direct market mechanism protecting American energy independence while ensuring defense facilities maintain uninterrupted power supplies. Coal-producing states and workers, abandoned by years of regulatory hostility under Obama-era greenhouse gas restrictions and the “green new scam,” now have federal support restoring jobs and community stability. The long-term commitment to coal power purchase agreements provides industry certainty that was systematically destroyed by climate activists who ignored grid reliability requirements.