In my capacity as President, empowered by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, I hereby issue the following directive:
Section 1. Context. The United States holds a fundamental national security and economic imperative in asserting its leadership in deep-sea exploration and the exploitation of seabed mineral resources. Currently, the nation is confronted with unparalleled economic and security hurdles in securing vital supplies of critical minerals without leaning on adversarial foreign powers. The expansive offshore seabed harbors critical minerals and energy resources essential for bolstering our economy, securing our energy future, and mitigating reliance on foreign suppliers. The vast ocean territories under U.S. control also host significant seabed mineral resources. By leveraging existing authorities and forging international alliances, the United States can access potentially extensive resources found in seabed polymetallic nodules, other subaqueous geological formations, and coastal deposits rich in strategic minerals, including nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, titanium, and rare earth elements, all of which are crucial for our national security and economic vitality. Immediate action is required to hasten the responsible extraction of seabed mineral resources, quantify our national endowment of seabed minerals, rejuvenate American leadership in extraction and processing technologies, and secure supply chains vital for our defense, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
Sec.2. Policy Statement. The United States is committed to enhancing its leadership in seabed mineral development by:
(a) swiftly building domestic capabilities for the exploration, evaluation, collection, and processing of seabed mineral resources through streamlined permitting processes, while upholding environmental and transparency standards;
(b) promoting investments in deep-sea science, mapping, and technological advancement;
(c) improving coordination among executive departments and agencies regarding seabed mineral development activities delineated in this directive;
(d) positioning the United States as a global leader in responsible seabed mineral exploration, development technologies, and practices, while serving as a partner for nations developing seabed mineral resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ);
(e) establishing a robust domestic supply chain for critical minerals sourced from seabed resources to foster economic growth, reindustrialization, and military readiness, including the development of new processing capabilities; and
(f) fortifying partnerships with allies and industries to neutralize China’s growing dominance over seabed mineral resources, ensuring that American companies are strategically positioned to assist allies and partners interested in responsibly developing seabed minerals within their EEZs.
Sec.3. Strategic Access to Seabed Critical Minerals. Within 60 days from the issuance of this order:
(a) The Secretary of Commerce shall:
(i) via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator, and in collaboration with the Secretaries of State and Interior, expedite the review and issuance of seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (30 U.S.C. 1401 et seq), ensuring efficiency, predictability, and competitiveness for American enterprises;
(ii) coordinate with the Secretaries of the Interior and Energy, in consultation with relevant agency heads, to report to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Chair, and Vice Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council, outlining:
(A) private sector interests and opportunities for seabed mineral resource exploration, mining, and environmental monitoring in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and beyond national jurisdiction, as well as within the jurisdictions of other nations willing to partner with U.S. companies for seabed development; and
(B) private sector interest and opportunities for processing seabed mineral resources in the U.S. or on U.S.-flagged vessels;
(iii) in collaboration with the Secretaries of State, Interior, and other relevant agencies, and in conjunction with commercial and non-governmental organizations, devise a plan to map high-priority seabed areas rich in accessible resources to accelerate data collection and characterization, prioritizing regions within the United States Outer Continental Shelf.
(b) The Secretary of the Interior shall:
(i) implement an expedited review and approval process for permits regarding prospecting and leasing for the exploration, development, and production of seabed mineral resources within the United States Outer Continental Shelf under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), ensuring efficiency and competitiveness for domestic companies;
(ii) identify critical minerals obtainable from seabed resources and coordinate with the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to assess which minerals are vital for defense infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy applications.
(c) The Secretary of Commerce, in conjunction with the Secretaries of State, Interior, and Energy, shall:
(i) engage with key allies to support seabed mineral resource exploration, extraction, processing, and environmental monitoring within their jurisdictions, fostering scientific collaboration and commercial opportunities for American firms, and develop a prioritized list of countries for engagement;
(ii) submit a joint report to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Chair, and the Vice Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council regarding the feasibility of an international benefit-sharing mechanism for seabed mineral extraction occurring in areas beyond any national jurisdiction.
(d) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall:
(i) prepare a report for the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the National Energy Dominance Council addressing the feasibility and potential implications of using the National Defense Stockpile for materials derived from seabed polymetallic nodules and entering into offtake agreements for these materials;
(ii) in collaboration with the Secretary of Commerce, review and adjust existing regulations to support domestic processing capabilities for seabed mineral resources, exploring the use of grant and loan authorities, the Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq), and other procurement and financing options for this purpose;
(iii) ensure that the Strategic and Critical Materials Board of Directors includes seabed mineral developments in its recommendations for securing materials deemed critical to national security to the Secretary of Defense under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq).
(e) The Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the President of the Export-Import Bank, the Director of the Trade and Development Agency, and other relevant agency heads shall jointly report to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the National Energy Dominance Council, identifying mechanisms to support domestic and international seabed mineral exploration, extraction, processing, and environmental monitoring.
Sec.4. Definitions. In this order:
(a) “Mineral” refers to any critical mineral as specified under 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3), as well as uranium, copper, potash, gold, and any other element or compound determined by the Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council.
(b) “Seabed mineral resources” encompass polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, polymetallic sulfides, heavy mineral sands, phosphorites, and other mineral-bearing substances.
(c) “Processing” includes the concentration, separation, refinement, alloying, and conversion of minerals into usable forms.
Sec.5. General Provisions. (a) This order shall not be interpreted to impair or affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or its head; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget concerning budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) Implementation of this order is subject to applicable law and available appropriations.
(c) This order does not create any enforceable rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, for any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any other individual.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 24, 2025.
