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January 30, 2025

Summary of President Trump's Executive Orders

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President Trump was inaugurated on January 20, and he has spent his first days in office signing a number of Executive Orders intended to set the tone for the administration’s priorities. Below is a summary of the orders most relevant to the mining sector, along with links where the whole text of the orders can be found.

EO 14153: Unleashing American Energy

  • This order establishes the administration’s policy to “to encourage energy exploration and production on Federal lands and waters” as well as “to establish our position as the leading producer and processor of non-fuel minerals, including rare earth minerals…”
  • All relevant federal agencies are required to review any regulatory practices that may hinder the development of domestic energy and mineral resources and provide a report on those within 30 days.
  • The order rescinds twelve Executive Orders signed by the Biden Administration, particularly those relating to climate change, vehicle emissions, and environmental justice.
  • The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is instructed to come up with new regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in a manner that will streamline permitting for energy and resources projects, with all relevant permitting agencies also expected to implement their own regulations in compliance with those from CEQ.
  • All agencies are required halt dispersal of funds allocated under the Inflation Reduction Act or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and then provide a report to the National Economic Council with recommendations to align those programs with administration policy.
  • Instructs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to reassess any land withdrawals for possible revision.
  • Directs Secretary of the Interior to consider updating the U.S. Geological Survey’s critical minerals list to include uranium, and to prioritize updated mapping of critical mineral deposits.
  • Orders the Secretary of Energy to ensure projects for mining and processing of critical minerals receive federal funding.

EO 14156: Declaring a National Energy Emergency

  • Declares that “The energy and critical minerals (‘energy’) identification, leasing, development, production, transportation, refining, and generation capacity of the United States are all far too inadequate to meet our Nation’s needs.” 
  • The order calls for “…a reliable, diversified, and affordable supply of energy to drive our Nation’s manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and defense industries, and to sustain the basics of modern life and military preparedness.”
  • Agencies are directed to use any emergency approval authorities available to advance the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources, including, but not limited to, on Federal lands. Agencies are also ordered to use emergency authorities to expedite any infrastructure projects that will facilitate energy or natural resources projects.
  • The order directs agencies to utilize any emergency authorities to promptly process Clean Water Act Section 404 permits as well as interagency consultation for project issues relating to species listed under the Endangered Species Act.
  • The Secretary of the Interior is directed to convene an Endangered Species Act Committee at least quarterly to consider applications for ESA Section 7 consultation in a more expedited fashion.

America First Trade Policy

  • The Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Treasury, and the U.S. Trade Representative are ordered to investigate the causes of our country’s large and persistent annual trade deficits in goods, as well as the economic and national security implications and risks resulting from such deficits. All three offices are also ordered to make recommendations to address the trade deficits, including possible tariffs.
  • The Secretaries of the Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security are directed to investigate the feasibility of creating an External Revenue Service to collect tariffs and other trade revenues.
  • Agencies are required to identify any unfair trade practices being conducted by other countries and recommend actions to address those practices.
  • The USTR will begin external consultation regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and to work with other agencies to determine the agreement’s impact on American businesses and consumers.
  • The USTR is directed to “review the Economic and Trade Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’s Republic of China to determine whether the PRC is acting in accordance with this agreement, and shall recommend appropriate actions to be taken based upon the findings of this review, up to and including the imposition of tariffs or other measures as needed.”
  • The Secretary of Commerce shall review policies relating to American intellectual property rights conferred on individuals within the PRC and make recommendations on more balance intellectual property protections.
  • The Secretary of Commerce is directed to review all trade measures relating to the import of steel and aluminum and determine if it is in the nation’s interest to take measures adjusting those imports.

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