Trump signs executive order invoking wartime powers to boost American production of critical minerals

The order, titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production," seeks to "boost American mineral production, streamline permitting, and enhance national security," a White House fact sheet stated.

Under the order, agencies have been directed to compile a list of all mineral production projects that have submitted approval requests to the agency to in order to expedite the review of those projects and invokes the Defense Production Act.

The act was passed in 1950 in response to the Korean War and gives more power to government to direct industrial production. Trump also used the act in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Within 30 days of the order being signed, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Energy have been ordered to identify "as many sites as possible on Federal land managed by their respective agencies that may be suitable for leasing or development" for the construction and operation of private commercial mineral production enterprises.

The order added that "the Secretary of Energy shall prioritize including sites on such lists on which mineral production projects could be fully permitted and operational as soon as possible and have the greatest potential effect on robustness of the domestic mineral supply chain." The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy "shall enter into extended use leases" with private entities "to advance the installation of commercial mineral production enterprises on the lands identified pursuant to subsection (b) of this section."

Pursuant to an executive order signed on his first day in office regarding energy and minerals, the executive order signed Thursday states, "I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Defense the authority of the President conferred by section 303 of the Defense Production Act."

"The Secretary of Defense may use the authority under section 303 of the DPA, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Energy, the Chair of the NEDC, and the heads of other agencies as the Secretary of Defense deems appropriate, for the domestic production and facilitation of strategic resources the Secretary of Defense deems necessary or appropriate to advance domestic mineral production in the United States. Further, within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall add mineral production as a priority industrial capability development area for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program."