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(by CNN Staff) – President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at immediately increasing American production of critical minerals like uranium, copper, potash and gold by invoking the Defense Production Act to expand leasing and development on federal lands.
The move is intended to help the U.S. reduce its reliance on imports from countries like China, which dominates the industry for production and processing of many of these important materials.
The order gives Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in consultation with other executive branch agency heads, the authority to use the Defense Production Act to facilitate the advancement of domestic mineral production.
The act, which was passed in 1950 in response to production needs during the Korean War, gives the government more control during emergencies to direct industrial production. Trump invoked it in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive order also directs relevant department and agency heads, in coordination with the chair of the National Energy Dominance Council, to identify and expedite priority mineral production projects that can be “immediately approved” or immediately issued permits.
“It is imperative for our national security that the United States take immediate action to facilitate domestic mineral production to the maximum possible extent,” the order states.
Within 10 days, Trump calls for Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to provide a list of all federal lands “known to hold mineral deposits and reserves” and “prioritize mineral production and mining related purposes as the primary land uses in these areas, consistent with applicable law.”
The order also asks the heads of the Interior, Defense, Agriculture and Energy departments to identify “as many sites as possible” where the construction and operation of private mineral production could take place.
Trump previewed the action in his joint address to Congress earlier this month, saying, “I will also take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.” …
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) defines critical minerals as ones that are essential to a country’s economy and national security, with supply chains that are vulnerable to disruption. They include lithium, nickel, cobalt and others materials used to make batteries, electrical components and semiconductors. Those parts are prevalent in electric vehicles, cell phones and other electronics.
China holds a dominant position in the production and processing of many critical minerals.
In 2024, the U.S. relied on China for over 50% of its imports of some critical materials, such as yttrium, bismuth, antimony, arsenic, and rare earths, according to the USGS.
In January, China proposed curbs on the export of technology and processes used to extract minerals critical for the global electric vehicle industry, including metallic, gallium, and lithium. The plan has yet to be finalized.
As part of a barrage of measures retaliating against Trump’s broad-based 10% tariff on Chinese imports to the U.S., Beijing in February announced export controls on five metals and their related products, including tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, indium and molybdenum. They are critical for defense and clean energy industrial applications.
Late last year, China banned the export of gallium, germanium, antimony and other “super hard” materials crucial to produce semiconductors and other tech, to the U.S., in response to U.S. semiconductor export controls imposed by the Biden administration.
On Thursday, Trump said he would be signing a deal “very shortly” on rare earth minerals with Ukraine. …
Increasing mining and refinement of critical minerals is a bipartisan goal. It was a prominent part of former President Joe Biden’s clean energy agenda, boosted by the former president’s 2022 climate law.
In 2022, Biden similarly invoked the Defense Production Act by adding critical minerals to the list of items covered by the law with an aim to kickstart domestic production and mining. Biden’s administration also approved a handful of mining projects for critical minerals. [China’s lax environmental regulations and lower labor costs make extraction and processing of rare earths way more cost-effective than in the U.S. In addition, China’s government subsidizes the industry, keeps export quotas tight, and uses rare earth elements as a geopolitical lever].
Questions
NOTE: Read the “Background” and watch the video under “Resources” below before answering the questions.
1. What is the difference between critical minerals and rare earth minerals?
2. For what purposes/products does the U.S. use critical minerals?
3. Why did President Trump invoke the Defense Production Act in his executive order to increase American production of critical minerals?
4. a) What does the president’s order allow Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to do?
b) What does the order require Interior Secretary Doug Bergum to do?
c) What does the order direct relevant department and agency heads to do?
5. From the Fact Sheet summarizing President Trump’s executive order on critical minerals:
The United States currently imports a significant portion of its minerals from foreign countries, creating economic and security risks, despite possessing a vast supply of critical minerals.
- The United States is 100% import-reliant on at least 15 critical minerals, and imports of nonfuel mineral commodities make up more than half of U.S. consumption.
- U.S. capacity utilization for the metal mining industry has declined for years.
China, Iran, and Russia control large deposits of several minerals critical to the U.S., posing a national security risk.
- 70% of U.S. imports of rare earths come from China.
A strong domestic mineral production industry would ensure U.S. companies can compete globally without overly relying on foreign supply chains.
Critical minerals are essential for U.S. military readiness, as they are key components in fighter jets, satellites, submarines, smart bombs, and missile guidance systems.
Prioritizing U.S. National Security: President Trump is committed to ending American dependence on hostile foreign powers for critical minerals.
[Executive orders are directives issued by the president to manage the federal government’s operations, rooted in the president’s constitutional authority (Article II) or powers delegated by Congress. They carry the force of law but are inherently less permanent than statutes because they can be reversed by a subsequent president. …A law passed by Congress, requiring approval from both the House and Senate and the president’s signature (or a veto override), making it far harder to undo. Once enacted, it can only be repealed by another act of Congress or ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.]
What do you think? Should Congress pass a law similar to President Trump’s executive order that ensures U.S. domestic production of critical minerals? Explain your answer.
CHALLENGE:
Do a search for how the U.S. uses the following critical minerals:
-uranium
-copper
-potash
-gold
Background
Critical minerals and rare earth minerals are related but not exactly the same. They’re often discussed together because of their importance in modern technology and industry, but the terms refer to slightly different concepts.
Rare earth minerals are a specific group of 17 elements on the periodic table, including the 15 lanthanides (like neodymium, dysprosium, and yttrium) plus scandium and yttrium. These elements have unique magnetic, catalytic, and luminescent properties, making them essential for things like smartphones, electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and military tech. They’re called “rare” not because they’re scarce in the Earth’s crust, but because they’re hard to find in concentrated, economically viable deposits.
Critical minerals, on the other hand, is a broader category defined more by their strategic and economic importance rather than their chemistry. A mineral is considered “critical” if it’s essential to a country’s economy or security and has a supply chain vulnerable to disruption. Governments—like the U.S., EU, or China—create lists of critical minerals based on their own needs, and these lists often include rare earths. But they also include other stuff like lithium, cobalt, graphite, or even copper, depending on demand and risk factors like geopolitical tensions or limited production sources. (from a March 25 Grok search for “are critical minerals and rare earths minerals the same”)
Resources
Read President Trump’s Executive Order “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production”
Read the Fact Sheet summarizing President Trump’s executive order on American mineral production.
Watch a March 25, 2025 CNBC interview with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum:
Daily “Answers” emails are provided for Daily News Articles, Tuesday’s World Events and Friday’s News Quiz.
