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The president of the United States, Donald Trump, speaks during the signing event for an executive order to close the Department of Education, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, UU., March 20, 2025.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to increase the national production of critical minerals, including uranium, copper, potassa, gold and possibly coal.
Trump ordered federal agencies to compile lists of pending mineral projects and accelerated their review in coordination with the National Energy Domain Council led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, said a White House official.
The president also ordered Burgum to prioritize the critical production of minerals in federal lands over other activities, the official said. Burgum can determine if other minerals, such as coal, are covered by the order, according to the official.
Trump will use the defense production law to increase mineral production, said the official. President Joe Biden also invoked the DPA to increase the production of critical minerals in 2022.
The United States International Development Finance Corporation will finance new production projects through a critical minerals dedicated in cooperation with the Department of Defense, said the official.
The United States imported 46% of its copper and 91% of its potassa in 2023, according to the United States Geological Service. Potassa is a key fertilizer used in agriculture. Nuclear plants in the US.
