Trump To Use Emergency Powers To Boost US Critical Minerals Industry

President Trump plans to utilize the Defense Production Act to bolster US critical mineral production, reducing reliance on China. This act grants the president powers to expedite domestic supply of materials crucial for national defense. The White House will bypass some legal requirements, including congressional approval, to achieve this goal. This action follows a previous invocation of emergency powers in March to increase critical mineral production. The executive order emphasizes the US's vast mineral resources and aims to revive domestic production. Overbearing federal regulation is cited as a factor in the decline of US mineral production. The administration prioritizes domestic refining of these minerals, not just raw material extraction. China currently dominates the global supply and processing of critical minerals. The US aims to break this Chinese dominance and secure its own supply chain for vital industries.