On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting domestic production of critical minerals, including uranium, copper, potash, gold, and potentially coal.
Trump instructed federal agencies to compile lists of pending mineral projects and fast-track their review in coordination with the National Energy Dominance Council, led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, according to a White House official.
The executive order also directs Burgum to prioritize critical mineral production on federal lands over other activities, the official stated. Additionally, Burgum has the authority to determine whether other minerals, such as coal, fall under the scope of the order.
Critical MineralsTo further drive mineral production, Trump will invoke the Defense Production Act, the official confirmed. President Joe Biden previously utilized the DPA in 2022 to boost critical minerals output.
The United States International Development Finance Corporation will support new production initiatives by allocating funds specifically for critical minerals projects in partnership with the Defense Department, according to the official.
In 2023, the U.S. imported 46% of its copper and 91% of its potash, based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Potash is an essential component of agricultural fertilizers. Additionally, the Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. nuclear plants imported 99% of the uranium concentrate used for reactor fuel that same year.