Trump invokes wartime powers for $700m coal investment
President Trump said he is directing $700m to the US coal industry under wartime powers, citing the Iran war's impact on domestic energy costs. The move targets a sector that has been in long decline.
BBC BusinessPresident Donald Trump said he is invoking wartime powers to channel $700 million into the US coal industry, the BBC reported. Trump framed the decision as a response to the Iran war's pressure on domestic energy prices, citing increases in household heating and electricity bills.
Coal has lost market share in US power generation to natural gas and renewables over the past two decades. The White House argues the wartime-powers framework supplies the legal basis for emergency procurement of fuel supply. Democratic senators and environmental groups have warned the move would conflict with climate commitments, while industry representatives say the funding will keep mines and coal-fired plants operating.
Legal scholars note the directive could face court challenges, as judges have previously curbed similar invocations of emergency authority. The Trump administration plans to release further detail on the structure and timeline of the investment in coming weeks.
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