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    Analysis

    May 5, 2026

    Defense Production Act energy orders set stage for higher steel use

    Written by Laura Miller

    The Trump administration recently issued a series of Defense Production Act determinations covering pipelines, LNG terminals, petroleum production, grid equipment, and large-scale energy infrastructure. Each sector is now designated as essential to national defense. The orders give the Department of Energy authority to speed construction, expand domestic manufacturing, and support critical supply chains.

    DPA orders

    Laura Miller

    Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held various editorial positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills since 2007. She joined the SMU team in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

    Read more from Laura Miller

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