Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended

President Trump issued a determination under the Defense Production Act finding that domestic production capability for energetic materials used in munitions is essential to national defense. The determination enables the use of DPA authorities to support this industrial base, citing that private industry alone cannot adequately meet this need.

Federal Register Open PDF 84 FR 203

Impact dates

Date TBD
Federal Register publication

Key directives

Determine domestic energetic materials production essential to national defense under DPA Section 303(a)(5)
Authorize use of DPA purchases, purchase commitments, or other action for this capability
Direct publication of memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of Defense · Department of Defense

Timeline

Immediate

DPA Section 303 authorities activated for energetic materials production
Determination effective upon signing

Near term (90d)

Potential DPA purchases or purchase commitments for energetic materials
Federal Register publication of determination

Long term

Sustained domestic production capability for munitions energetic materials
Industrial base modernization investments

Risks & tensions

Document does not specify concrete dollar amounts or specific contracts, leaving implementation scope uncertain
Reliance on DPA rather than normal appropriations may indicate urgency or market failure in defense supply chain
Energetic materials supply chain vulnerabilities have been persistent concern; this determination alone does not guarantee industrial base recovery