Overview

• President Donald Trump signed four executive orders on April 8, 2025, targeting a revival of the coal industry by relaxing regulatory constraints and promoting coal mining on federal lands.
• The orders reclassify coal as a critical mineral, enabling expedited permitting and leasing processes under federal guidelines.
• Trump invoked emergency authorities to keep older coal-fired power plants operational to address growing electricity demand from AI data centers and other high-tech industries.
• Environmental groups and energy experts argue the measures are unlikely to reverse coal’s decades-long decline, citing cheaper renewable energy and natural gas as dominant alternatives.
• The administration’s actions mark a significant rollback of Biden-era climate policies and emphasize coal’s role in achieving energy independence and national security.