President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order aimed at jumpstarting deep-sea mining operations in U.S. and international waters, seeking to boost domestic access to critical minerals essential for defense, energy, and high-tech industries. The move, revealed Thursday, marks a sharp pivot toward resource independence amid escalating geopolitical tensions and global trade uncertainty.
Under the new directive, the Commerce Department will fast-track permitting for both exploratory and commercial mining under the 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. While deep-sea mining has long been a point of contention due to environmental concerns, Trump’s order signals a clear intention to expand U.S. strategic access to seabed deposits of cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements—minerals vital for manufacturing batteries, semiconductors, and military technology.
The initiative also opens the door for mining operations within U.S. coastal waters, assigning the Interior Department, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, the task of establishing new licensing protocols modeled after existing oil and gas drilling regulations. This dual-track approach aims to position the U.S. as a leader in underwater resource extraction while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, particularly China.
Environmental groups are already sounding alarms, warning that seabed mining could permanently damage fragile marine ecosystems. Critics argue that the scientific understanding of deep-sea habitats remains limited, and large-scale excavation could threaten biodiversity and disrupt carbon storage systems vital to climate stability.
Nonetheless, the White House touts the executive order as part of a broader strategy to revitalize America’s critical mineral infrastructure. A related set of studies will be conducted by federal agencies, including an evaluation of incorporating seabed-sourced minerals into the U.S. National Defense Stockpile. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank have also been tasked with exploring ways to finance seabed exploration and processing, highlighting growing public-private interest in this nascent sector.
The timing of this move aligns with rising demand for green technology, which relies heavily on rare earths and battery metals. Analysts view the executive order as a signal to industry that the U.S. government is ready to support more aggressive resource development strategies in unconventional frontiers—despite the potential legal and environmental hurdles ahead.
