Strengthening United States National Defense With America's Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet

Executive Order Number: 14386
President: Donald Trump
Signed: February 11, 2026
Published: February 17, 2026
Source: Federal Register
Original Document: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-17/pdf/2026-03156.pdf

AI-Generated Summary

Ensures the resilience and reliability of the U.S. electric grid, critical for military installations, operations, defense-industrial production, economic stability, and national security.
Emphasizes coal-fired power generation as a proven, continuous baseload source with abundant domestic resources, reducing reliance on intermittent energy or foreign supplies.
Frames grid disruptions as threats to Armed Forces readiness and public safety, prioritizing coal for strategic deterrence and energy dominance.

Policy Establishment (Sec. 2): Builds on prior Executive Orders (14261, 14262, and the national energy emergency in 14156), declaring coal essential to national/economic security and mandating grid use of resources with abundant, extended-operation fuels.
Power Procurement (Sec. 3): Directs the Secretary of War (in coordination with the Secretary of Energy) to approve long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) or similar contracts with U.S. coal-fired facilities for Department of War (DOW) installations and mission-critical sites, prioritizing:
Grid reliability and blackout prevention.
On-site fuel security.
Mission assurance for defense/intelligence.
Implementation subject to applicable law and appropriations (Sec. 4).

No direct amendments to existing laws; reinforces and expands prior coal-focused policies from EOs 14261/14262.
Shifts federal procurement policy toward preferential sourcing from coal plants for defense needs, elevating coal's role in addressing a declared national energy emergency.

Government Agencies: Increases DOW and DOE commitments to coal power, potentially stabilizing military energy supply but raising costs or shifting budgets.
Energy Sector: Boosts demand for existing coal fleet, supporting plant preservation and operations amid retirements.
Citizens/Economy: Enhances grid reliability for defense-critical infrastructure; indirect benefits to economic stability via baseload power.
International Relations: Promotes U.S. energy dominance by reducing foreign dependencies, with minimal direct global effects.

Department of War (DOW): Primary procurer for military installations.
Department of Energy (DOE): Coordinates on PPAs and energy policy.
Coal-Fired Power Generators: Direct beneficiaries via contracts.
Military/Defense Installations: Gain prioritized reliable power.
Electric Grid Operators: Indirectly influenced by federal procurement preferences.

Legal: Standard disclaimers preserve agency authorities, OMB functions, and non-enforceability of rights (Sec. 4); implementation tied to appropriations and law compliance.
Constitutional: Relies on executive authority over national defense and energy security; references prior national emergency (EO 14156) to justify actions.
Political: Uses anachronistic "Department of War" terminology (historically pre-1947); signals strong pro-coal stance in national security context, potentially contentious amid energy transition debates.
No novel legal challenges apparent; focuses on procurement within executive discretion.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.