US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order focused on accelerating the development of deep-sea mining operations, aiming to enhance domestic access to critical minerals including nickel, copper, manganese, and cobalt.
The executive directive is positioned to strengthen the US’ critical minerals supply chain by advancing both domestic and international seabed mining efforts.
Signed privately, the executive order initiates a strategy to expand mineral extraction within the US Outer Continental Shelf and areas beyond national jurisdiction.
An administration official stated that more than one billion metric tons of polymetallic nodules are estimated to exist within US maritime boundaries, reported Reuters. These contain materials integral to sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defence.
The extraction of these resources could contribute an estimated $300bn to US gross domestic product over a 10-year period and create approximately 100,000 jobs, according to the same official.
The directive instructs federal agencies to expedite the review and issuance of permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980, while establishing a defined process for mining leases on the US Outer Continental Shelf.
It also mandates the rapid assessment and development of regulatory pathways for seabed mining projects outside national waters, positioning US companies for expanded participation in global deep-sea resource extraction.
Trump stated in the order that the US maintains a core national security and economic interest in leadership over seabed mineral resources.
The executive order outlines specific policy objectives, including building domestic exploration, collection, and processing capabilities. It also supports investment in deep-sea mapping and extraction technology and seeks to foster partnerships with countries exploring their Exclusive Economic Zones.
The International Seabed Authority, formed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, continues to develop international regulatory standards for seabed mining, although the US is not a signatory to the Convention.
Current efforts by the Authority have yet to produce binding agreements regarding operational environmental controls, including limits on dust and noise emissions.
Environmental organisations, including Greenpeace, have raised concerns regarding the ecological impacts of seabed mining. Greenpeace’s Arlo Hemphill stated that the US government has no right to allow an industry to destroy the common heritage of humankind, warning against large-scale industrial activity on the ocean floor.
Within 60 days of the order, the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretaries of State, Interior, and Energy, is required to produce a report assessing private sector interest in exploration, extraction, and mineral processing opportunities.
The report must cover activities within US maritime boundaries, international waters, and in jurisdictions where partner nations express interest in collaborating with US companies.
The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with implementing an expedited permitting regime for seabed mineral exploration and extraction leases within US waters.
Additionally, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy are directed to evaluate the potential for incorporating seabed-derived materials into the National Defense Stockpile and to consider the application of procurement tools such as the Defense Production Act to promote domestic mineral processing.
The order also mandates the development of a mapping plan targeting priority seabed areas with high concentrations of mineral resources, particularly within the US Outer Continental Shelf. The Department of Commerce and related agencies are instructed to engage international partners and provide recommendations for establishing benefit-sharing mechanisms for mining activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Agencies including the US International Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank are tasked with assessing tools to finance seabed mineral projects both domestically and internationally, supporting the establishment of secure supply chains for critical mineral resources.
The executive order defines “seabed mineral resources” to include polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, polymetallic sulphides, and other mineral-bearing geological structures. It broadens the definition of “processing” to encompass activities such as concentration, refinement, alloying, and conversion into usable forms.
The provisions of the executive order are subject to applicable law and the availability of appropriated funding. The directive does not establish new legal rights or claims enforceable against the US government.
