On March 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production,” aimed at bolstering the United States’ domestic mineral industry. The order underscores the administration’s commitment to enhancing national security, economic prosperity, and reducing dependence on foreign mineral sources.
The executive order highlights the United States’ abundant mineral resources, emphasizing their critical role in various sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, defense, and emerging technologies. President Trump pointed out that excessive federal regulation has previously hindered mineral production, leading to increased reliance on minerals from foreign adversaries, which poses a threat to national and economic security.
Key provisions of the order include:
- Priority Projects: Within ten days, heads of relevant executive departments and agencies are required to list all mineral production projects seeking approval. These projects will be evaluated to identify those eligible for immediate approval or expedited permitting processes. Additionally, selected projects will be featured on the Permitting Dashboard to ensure transparency and accelerate reviews.
- Regulatory Clarifications: The order mandates the development of recommendations to Congress for clarifying the treatment of waste rock, tailings, and mine waste disposal under the Mining Act of 1872, to streamline mining operations and reduce regulatory barriers.
- Land Use Optimization: The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with identifying federal lands rich in mineral deposits and prioritizing them for mineral production and mining-related activities. Furthermore, the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, and Energy will collaborate to identify suitable federal sites for leasing or developing private commercial mineral production enterprises.
- Capital Investment Acceleration: The order leverages the Defense Production Act to facilitate private and public investments in mineral production. It encourages agencies to remove unnecessary disclosure requirements and empowers the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to support strategic resource production.
- Industry Feedback and Collaboration: A request for information will be issued to gather industry input on regulatory obstacles and strategies to expedite domestic mineral production, ensuring that the measures align with industry needs and technological advancements.
This executive order represents a strategic initiative to revitalize the U.S. mineral sector, aiming to create jobs, enhance technological innovation, and secure a stable supply of essential minerals. By streamlining regulations and promoting investment, the administration seeks to position the United States as a leading producer of critical minerals essential for modern industries and national defense.
Source: The White House
