Adjusting Certain Delegations Under the Defense Production Act

This executive order, signed September 8, 2026, amends Executive Order 13603 (National Defense Resources Preparedness) to expand Defense Production Act authorities from the Secretary of Energy alone to include the Secretary of the Interior as a co-equal authority. Key changes: Shared authority: The Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Energy can now each independently exercise delegated DPA authority over energy matters within their purview, rather than this authority resting solely with Energy. Dispute resolution: If the two secretaries disagree on an energy-related matter, it goes to the National Energy Dominance Council. If the dispute also touches national defense infrastructure or military operations, it's referred to both the National Energy Dominance Council and the National Security Council, coordinating with the Department of War. Production/construction authority: Interior and Energy jointly (and independently) gain authority over energy production, construction, distribution, and related activities. Additional delegation: Authority under section 101(c)(1)–(2) of the Defense Production Act is delegated to the Secretaries of the Interior, Commerce, and Energy, each acting independently. Standard provisions: The order doesn't alter existing agency legal authorities or OMB functions, must be implemented per applicable law and available funding, creates no enforceable private rights, and assigns publication costs to the Department of the Interior. Effectively, this order broadens Interior's role in energy-related defense production decisions alongside Energy.