President Trump’s Bold Shift in Domestic Minerals Policy

On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed the “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production“ executive order. This sweeping directive is aimed at bolstering domestic minerals production to enhance national security, support emerging technologies and reduce reliance on minerals imports.

Key Provisions of the Executive Order:

1. Streamlined and Expedited Permitting and Production: The EO directs federal agencies to compile a list of all pending mineral production projects within 10 days of the EO, and submit a list of priority projects for consideration under the FAST-41 Act. Federal lands with known mineral deposits will be prioritized, and existing land-use plans will be updated to align with the order’s objectives.
2. Expanding the Critical Minerals List. The EO expands the definition of critical minerals to include uranium, copper, potash, gold and any other element, compound or material as determined by the chair of the National Energy Dominance Council.
3. Defense Production Act Invocation: The Department of Defense is directed to prioritize critical minerals in its Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program. This ensures minerals essential to defense and technology are produced domestically.
4. Regulatory Reforms: Federal agencies will review regulatory barriers and invite industry to weigh in on reducing red tape and improving efficiency. It also calls on Congress to address the flawed 2018 Arizona district court decision in Center for Biological Diversity et. al. v. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service et. al.,
5. Financial Support for Mining Projects: The EO includes a range of funding, loan and other financing mechanisms to support minerals production and refining,  encourage private-sector investment and offer favorable financing terms to reduce production costs and incentivize new projects.

President Trump’s order is poised to address longstanding obstacles to U.S. mining at an unprecedented speed. By increasing domestic minerals production and reducing our dependence on imports, the United States is poised to become a global competitor in the minerals space.

“President Trump’s new executive order confronting China’s minerals weapon isn’t just a step forward; it’s a leap. With a pen stroke, the president has awoken a sleeping giant. American mining is once again center stage—no longer an afterthought to ever-growing reliance on mineral imports from nations that lack the environmental, labor and safety standards that make our industry world-class.” – Rich Nolan

President Trump’s Executive Order represents a much-needed push in the right direction to secure America’s minerals future, combining immediate actions and long-term strategies. Now is the time for the country to align the efforts of the private and public sector to achieve full mineral independence in the United States.