President Trump is betting big on coal. On June 4, the administration announced a federal support package worth nearly $700 million to prop up the US coal industry, invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950 to justify the spending as a matter of national security.
The centerpiece argument: reliable electricity is essential for powering AI data centers and reducing foreign energy dependence.
Where the money is going
The package breaks down into three main buckets, each targeting a different piece of the coal supply chain.
Roughly $425 million will go toward upgrades at 13 existing coal-fired power plants spread across multiple states.
