President Trump has taken action in a bombshell decision to secure America’s future by signing an executive order to jumpstart deep-sea mining, directly challenging China’s stranglehold on critical minerals.
The groundbreaking order will fast-track the extraction of valuable resources from U.S. and international waters, potentially creating 100,000 American jobs while strengthening national security.
Trump’s executive order declared, “The United States has a core national security and economic interest in maintaining leadership in deep-sea science and technology and seabed mineral resources.”
The move represents a decisive step toward American mineral independence at a time when China continues to restrict exports of these essential materials.
The ocean floor contains vast deposits of polymetallic nodules—potato-sized rocks rich in nickel, copper, cobalt, and other minerals crucial for electric vehicles, electronics, and defense technology.
U.S. waters alone are estimated to contain over 1 billion metric tons of these valuable resources, which have the potential to boost America’s GDP by a staggering $300 billion over the next decade.
Meanwhile, the proposal slashes bureaucratic red tape by expediting mining permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980 and establishing a streamlined process for permits along the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
The Secretary of Commerce has been given just 60 days to expedite seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits – a dramatic departure from the endless delays typical of previous administrations.
While America acts decisively, several nations hostile to U.S. interests – including China, Norway, India, and Poland – have aligned against the American approach to deep-sea mining.
Despite this opposition, Trump’s order positions the U.S. as the global leader in seabed mineral exploration and development within the territorial waters and beyond.
The initiative goes beyond simply gathering resources. The order includes coordination with the Secretaries of Energy and Defense to identify critical minerals essential for national defense, infrastructure, and energy purposes.
It also calls for a report on the feasibility of using the National Defense Stockpile for nodule-derived minerals and upgrading domestic processing capabilities.
The market responded enthusiastically to Trump’s leadership, with shares of The Metals Company rising significantly following the announcement.
At the same time, American companies are already positioning themselves to take advantage of these new opportunities, with Impossible Metals requesting a commercial auction for mineral deposits off American Samoa.
Although radical environmental groups like Greenpeace predictably condemned the action, supporters point out that deep-sea mining could actually reduce the need for environmentally destructive land-based mining operations.
Ultimately, the proposal represents another promise kept by President Trump, who continues to prioritize American energy independence, job creation, and countering China’s growing influence over critical supply chains.
By unleashing America’s offshore resources, Trump is securing the nation’s future prosperity while ensuring America has the minerals needed to maintain the technological and military edge.
