President Trump Issues Executive Order to Expand Offshore Critical Minerals Exploration

Highlights

• Executive Order ‘Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources’ focuses on seabed exploration to reduce dependency on foreign mineral supplies.
• The order activates multiple federal agencies to expedite the exploration, extraction, and processing of critical minerals from ocean floors.
• National security and economic independence are primary drivers of this comprehensive maritime mineral development initiative.

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On April 24, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a sweeping Executive Order (opens in a new tab) titled “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources”, signaling a bold strategic move to harness the vast mineral wealth hidden beneath the seafloor. The directive marks a significant shift in American resource policy, positioning seabed exploration and mineral development at the forefront of the country’s national security, economic independence, and technological leadership.

This Executive Order is rooted in a clear message: the future of American strength—militarily, economically, and industrially—may well depend on what lies beneath the oceans. With the United States sitting atop one of the world’s largest exclusive ocean zones, the seabed represents untapped potential in the form of critical minerals, including cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, titanium, and rare earth elements. These are the building blocks of modern technology, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced defense systems.

The background section of the order lays out the stakes. As the U.S. grapples with challenges in securing independent, stable supplies of critical minerals—many of which are currently dominated by foreign adversaries, notably China—the deep sea emerges as a frontier for both scientific discovery and strategic self-sufficiency. By asserting U.S. leadership in deep-sea science and technology, the administration aims to reduce dependency on geopolitical rivals, strengthen domestic supply chains, and support industries crucial to the nation’s future.

The policy directives within the order are expansive and ambitious. They call for the rapid development of domestic capabilities in seabed exploration, extraction, and processing, while promising streamlined permitting processes that maintain environmental and transparency standards. The goal is clear: enable American companies to act swiftly and competitively in the global race for deep-sea minerals.

To make this happen, the order activates a broad swath of federal agencies and departments. Within 60 days, the Secretary of Commerce is tasked with expediting the licensing process for exploration in international waters under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, and with identifying private sector opportunities for mineral recovery both in U.S. waters and internationally. This includes a report detailing areas of commercial interest, as well as a plan for mapping priority seabed zones—those with the highest likelihood of containing valuable mineral deposits.

The Department of the Interior is likewise charged with accelerating permits for exploration and development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. It must also determine which minerals are of strategic importance, coordinating with the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to align mineral extraction with national security and energy objectives.

The order also highlights the importance of international engagement. It encourages partnerships with allied nations that are seeking to responsibly develop their own seabed mineral resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones. This aspect of the strategy aims not only to extend U.S. influence but also to counteract China’s rapidly expanding dominance in the seabed mining sector. By offering American technical and commercial support to interested nations, the U.S. seeks to position itself as the partner of choice for responsible seabed resource development.

Notably, the order emphasizes the development of a robust domestic processing infrastructure. Extracting minerals is only part of the equation; processing them into usable forms—through concentration, refinement, alloying, and conversion—is critical for creating end-use products in everything from smartphones to fighter jets. The Defense Production Act and other federal financing mechanisms are highlighted as potential tools to support these efforts.

National security remains a driving force throughout the order. The Departments of Defense and Energy are instructed to explore the feasibility of using the National Defense Stockpile for materials derived from the seabed and to assess offtake agreements that could secure future mineral supply. These measures point to a long-term strategy for stockpiling critical materials vital to national defense and manufacturing.

Finally, the order encourages the United States International Development Finance Corporation and other relevant agencies to propose financial tools to bolster domestic and international seabed mineral initiatives, including environmental monitoring, which is acknowledged as a necessary component of any responsible development.

Of course, as Rare Earth Exchanges has chronicled, the need for resilience cuts across not only upstream but also, importantly, midstream and downstream activities