Defense Directives

Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate

This document details presidential actions regarding nominations and withdrawals sent to the Senate for consideration.

It lists eleven individuals nominated for positions including Ambassador to Australia, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Assistant Secretaries across various departments (Health and Human Services, Treasury, State, Commerce), an Inspector General for HUD, and two United States Circuit Judges.

Additionally, the document formally communicates the withdrawal of three previous nominations related to the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Director of the National Park Service.

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Nominations Sent to the Senate

This document lists several individuals nominated by the President and sent to the Senate for confirmation to various high-level positions within the U.S. government.

The nominations cover roles including the Director of the Peace Corps, Ambassadors, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney, Assistant Secretaries in the Air Force, the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, the Director of the CDC, and an Assistant Secretary for Veterans Affairs.

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Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Grid Infrastructure, Equipment, and Supply Chain Capacity

Published: Mon 20th Apr 26

The President issued a determination for the Secretary of Energy, declaring that the nation's electric grid infrastructure and its associated supply chains are essential national defense resources facing severe threats due to foreign overreliance and outdated domestic capacity.

Citing a prior national energy emergency declaration, the President invoked Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to authorize the government to take necessary actions, including purchases and financial support, to rapidly expand domestic manufacturing capabilities for critical grid components like transformers and high-voltage equipment, thereby averting a shortfall that could severely impair national defense.

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Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Development, Manufacturing, and Deployment of Large-Scale Energy and Energy‑Related Infrastructure

Published: Mon 20th Apr 26

This Presidential Determination directs the Secretary of Energy to use authority under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 to expedite the development, manufacturing, and deployment of large-scale energy and energy-related infrastructure.

Citing a prior declaration of a national energy emergency due to inadequate domestic energy supply posing a threat to national security, the President finds that market risks and regulatory delays prevent the timely meeting of crucial industrial capacity needs.

Consequently, the President determines that expanding this domestic capability is essential for national defense and waives certain procedural requirements of the DPA to enable immediate purchasing, commitments, and financial support for these projects.

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Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Natural Gas Transmission, Processing, Storage, and Liquefied Natural Gas Capacity

Published: Mon 20th Apr 26

This Presidential Determination directs the Secretary of Energy to use the authority granted under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to expand domestic natural gas transmission, processing, storage, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) capacity.

The action is framed as essential for national defense and ensuring allied energy security against threats posed by hostile foreign powers utilizing energy reliance as a weapon.

The President specifically waives certain DPA requirements, finding that industry cannot meet these critical infrastructure needs in a timely manner due to financing, permitting, and construction delays.

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Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Coal Supply Chains and Baseload Power Generation Capacity

Published: Mon 20th Apr 26

This Presidential Memorandum directs the Secretary of Energy to utilize the authority granted under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to secure and expand coal supply chains and baseload power generation capacity.

The action is predicated on a finding, previously established in Executive Order 14156, that inadequate energy supply poses an unusual and extraordinary threat to the Nation’s economy and national security, asserting that coal infrastructure is crucial for maintaining grid stability, supporting defense operations, and meeting the high energy demands of emerging technologies.

The document explicitly determines that industry cannot meet these needs in a timely manner due to market barriers and consequently waives several DPA requirements to allow for immediate purchases, commitments, and financial support measures.

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Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Domestic Petroleum Production, Refining, and Logistics Capacity

President Trump issues a Presidential Determination to the Secretary of Energy, activating Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 following a prior declaration of a National Energy Emergency.

This action officially designates domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity—including pipelines and terminals—as critical national defense resources.

The President finds that federal intervention via purchases, commitments, or financial support is necessary because industry cannot meet the required expansion timely due to financing and permitting hurdles, leading to a waiver of standard DPA procedural requirements for the purpose of immediately bolstering U.S. defense readiness.

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Presidential Determination Concerning the Air Force’s Jet Fighter Training Operations in Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada

The President issued a memorandum exempting the United States Air Force's jet fighter training operations located in Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada from Federal, state, and local requirements concerning water pollution control and abatement for a one-year period, specifically from April 20, 2026, to April 20, 2027.

This action is taken pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, based on the determination that these exemptions are in the paramount interest of the United States, particularly in relation to ongoing litigation regarding these training activities, although specific sections of the Act (33 U.S.C. 1316 and 1317) remain in effect.

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