Energy-Focused Executive Orders: Impact on Mining

The Executive Order (EO) “Unleashing American Energy,” released on January 20, 2025, reinforces President Trump's goal of reclaiming America's leadership in mineral production, becoming the top producer and processor of non-fuel minerals, including rare earth minerals. The strategy includes policies to boost federal support for domestic mining and processing by reducing regulatory hurdles and other administrative obstacles.

Released on the same day, the EO “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” stressed that the United States does not inadequately identify, lease, develop, produce, transport, refine, and generate critical minerals to meet the nation’s needs and highlights the importance of securing a dependable, diverse, and cost-effective supply of these minerals.

Summary

The Unleashing American Energy EO instructs the relevant agencies to identify any actions that place “undue burdens” on the US mining sector and take measures to revise or rescind them.

Among other actions, the agencies must:

• Reassess public land withdrawals to determine if revisions are needed.
• Evaluate the possibility of updating the U.S. Geological Survey’s list of critical minerals, including potentially adding uranium.
• Prioritize efforts to accelerate detailed geological mapping across the United States, with an emphasis on discovering previously unknown critical mineral deposits.
• Ensure critical mineral projects, including the processing of critical minerals, are considered for federal support, depending on the availability of allocated funds.
• Assess whether exploitative practices and state-assisted mineral projects abroad are unlawful or unduly burden or restrict US commerce.
• Examine the national security risks associated with the country’s dependence on minerals and explore the potential for trade actions.
• Submit a report to the assistant to the president for economic policy that includes policy recommendations to enhance the competitiveness of American mining and refining companies in other mineral-wealthy nations.
• Explore opportunities to advance the mining and processing of minerals within the United States through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

Looking Forward

The relevant agencies are anticipated to start taking action soon, possibly expediting the permitting process and reducing regulatory obstacles for mining companies and potentially expanding mining activities, especially for minerals such as uranium, which is specifically mentioned in the EO.

However, the EO may also trigger legal challenges from environmental groups concerned about possible adverse environmental impacts. Additionally, it could impact global supply chains and minerals market dynamics worldwide.