The Trump administration issued a waiver allowing it to expand the use of the Defense Production Act in a bid to boost production of critical minerals and weapons in the United States.
The presidential waiver, dated May 23 and set to publish in the Federal Register on Wednesday, lifts certain statutory requirements under the Cold War-era law for “munitions, missiles and associated equipment, and minerals.”
It also notes the order extends to uranium, copper, potash and gold, which are not on the U.S. Geological Survey list of critical minerals.
“Shortfalls in these areas would severely impair national defense capability,” the waiver reads. “Ensuring a robust, resilient, and sustainable domestic industrial base is essential to our national security and the preservation of domestic critical infrastructure.”
