President Donald Trump on Thursday in a far-reaching executive order invoked emergency powers to ramp up the nation’s ability to produce critical minerals and reduce reliance on foreign imports from China.
The president’s executive order taps into a host of authorities, including the Cold War-era Defense Production Act, to bolster production of critical minerals, as well as uranium, copper, potash, gold and other materials deemed necessary by the National Energy Dominance Council.
The order lays out staggered timelines for agencies to identify domestic mineral projects to be prioritized through streamlined permitting and financing, including loans, capital and technical assistance. It also calls on the departments of Defense and Energy to work together to accelerate domestic mineral production and enter into “extended use leases” for the installation of commercial mineral production projects.
Trump’s order also calls on the DOD to work with the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. to provide financing for new projects.
The order also lays out steps to fast-track additional domestic mining, and directs the Interior Department to prioritize mining on federal land. The order also calls on the agency to submit changes for dealing with waste rock and tailings, a hot-button issue among lawmakers hoping to bolster mining in their states.
Groups like the National Mining Association celebrated the order as a combination of streamlined permitting and financial support to counter China, while environmental groups warned the language will lead to more pollution and destruction of public lands.
