President Donald Trump has amended federal emergency-preparedness rules to let both the Interior and Energy departments independently use certain Defense Production Act authorities involving energy.
The executive order changes delegations first established in a 2012 national defense resources preparedness order and revised earlier in 2026.
Under the amendment, the secretaries of Interior and Energy may each exercise delegated authority over forms of energy within their departments’ areas of responsibility.
The prior wording assigned authority over all forms of energy to the energy secretary. The new language divides responsibility by agency jurisdiction while allowing either secretary to act independently.
The order also changes how disputes between the two departments are handled. Energy-related disagreements are to go first to the National Energy Dominance Council.
If a dispute affects national defense infrastructure or military operations, it must be referred to both that council and the National Security Council. Both bodies are directed to coordinate with the department identified in the order as the Department of War.
The order similarly gives both Interior and Energy independent authority over energy production, construction, distribution, use and directly related activities.
Another amendment delegates authorities under Section 101 of the Defense Production Act to the secretaries of Interior, Commerce and Energy, allowing each to exercise them independently.
The Defense Production Act permits the federal government to prioritize contracts and allocate materials or services considered necessary for national defense. The order changes who may use specified powers but does not itself announce a particular allocation or project.
The amended delegations apply to authorities involving energy resources and related production capacity. Agencies would still have to act within the Defense Production Act and other governing laws when using those powers.
Implementation remains subject to federal law and available appropriations. The order states that it does not create a private right or benefit enforceable against the government.
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