Trump signed the order behind closed doors at the White House on Thursday. A spokesperson said the order would streamline permitting to allow for increased mining of the minerals, which include copper, potash and gold.
The order invokes wartime powers under the Defense Production Act to expand domestic U.S. mining production, according to information shared by a White House official.
In addition, the efforts to increase mineral production may end up including coal, if Interior Secretary Doug Burgum decides that the fossil fuel should fall under the definition of “minerals.”
“It’s a big thing in this country. And as you know we’re also signing agreements in various locations to unlock rare earths and minerals and lots of other things all over the world. But in particular Ukraine,” Trump said at an event where he signed a measure aimed at dismantling the Department of Education.
“One of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with Ukraine with respect to rare earth,” Trump added.
Meanwhile, the minerals executive order takes additional steps to bolster mining, according to the White House.
It includes allowing approvals for more mining projects to be fast-tracked, directing the Interior Department to prioritize mining over other uses of federal lands and developing financing methods, including the creation of a new fund through the United States International Development Finance Corporation.
Read more from The Hill’s Brett Samuels and Rachel Frazin.
