Trump’s New Critical Minerals Executive Order
On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) to increase domestic minerals production for national security by invoking Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code. The EO designates clear authorities to relevant agency heads; sets timelines for implementation within 10, 30, or 45 days; and establishes the new National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), chaired by Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum, to oversee the progress of domestic minerals security.
The EO positions critical minerals as a national security priority, instructing the secretary of defense to add mineral production as a priority industrial capability development area for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program. It aims to develop domestic minerals resources and signals to the private sector that the administration is prioritizing minerals security and willing to support the sector by lowering barriers to entry and mobilizing existing funding quickly.
The EO seeks to strengthen U.S. minerals security by expediting permitting for mining projects on federal lands, invoking the Defense Production Act, and leveraging financing programs, including the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), traditionally reserved for development-oriented projects in low- and middle-income countries, to fund domestic minerals projects.
Minerals Included in the Executive Order
The EO defines “minerals” as those identified as critical on the Department of Interior’s list, and also includes copper, uranium, gold, and potash. It leaves the critical minerals list open to other materials, as determined by the NEDC. This provision expands support to key materials historically left off the list and unable to benefit from government incentives aimed at the critical minerals sector.
Expanding the minerals list has two key benefits. First, it increases support to commodities like copper, uranium, and potash, which are vital for U.S. national, economic, and energy security interests. Copper is widely used in weapon platforms, electrical grids, integrated circuits, and telecommunications networks. Uranium is essential for nuclear power, accounting for 19 percent of total U.S. energy production in 2023. Including these minerals can provide crucial support for domestic production and processing capabilities.
Second, supporting an expanded list of commodities can be strategic for sourcing important by-products often not found alone. For example, reopening the Stibnite Gold Mine could produce both gold and antimony, a crucial material for missile and munitions applications.
EO’s Provisions to Expedite Permitting and Leasing on Federal Lands
Permitting is the largest barrier to developing domestic mineral projects. The United States has one of the longest timelines to develop a mine, with federal permitting delays noted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The EO addresses permitting bottlenecks by directing the NEDC to identify priority projects for expedited permitting and ordering the identification of federal lands suitable for mineral production.
Though addressing permitting bottlenecks is key, additional challenges such as energy infrastructure shortages must be addressed for mining and processing projects to find sites on federal lands attractive.
EO Approach to Financing
The EO utilizes various sources of federal funding to support domestic minerals projects. Departments such as Energy, Agriculture, Defense, and the SBA are directed to give favorable terms to entities establishing commercial minerals production on federal lands. The EO cannot appropriate additional resources and requires new legislation for additional capital, which may be challenging given tight margins and focus on deficit reduction.
Empowering the Export-Import Bank to Support Mineral Offtake
The Export-Import Bank (EXIM) uses its Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative (SCRI) to secure offtake of raw materials produced abroad for domestic processing. The EO directs EXIM to submit guidance on leveraging this program. Success depends on addressing challenges such as financial struggles of off-takers and demand uncertainty.
Delegation of the Defense Production Act authority to the International Development Finance Corporation
The EO invokes the Defense Production Act (DPA) and delegates authority to the secretary of defense and the CEO of the DFC to issue loans and guarantees for domestic mineral production. This expands the role of the DFC, which is up reauthorization in 2025, in directing domestic investments, paving the way for a more domestically focused agency. This change is notable as the DFC was created to finance development in low- and middle-income countries.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Ben Black, Trump’s nominee to head the DFC, will play significant roles in determining the future of U.S. critical minerals production. Black and Hegseth will leverage Department of Defense investment authorities to create a fund for domestic mineral production, managed by the DFC. Previously, in 2020, the DFC was given $100 million in DPA loan authority to address medical supply shortages during Covid-19. The EO now broadens the DFC's role to include directing domestic investments in minerals, shifting its focus from international infrastructure and aid programs.