▸ President Trump has fast-tracked ten mining projects to reduce Chinese mineral dependence
▸ FAST-41 speeds up critical infrastructure permits while maintaining safety standards
▸ The U.S. currently imports 100% of twelve essential minerals, relying heavily on China
▸ Domestic mining expansion requires parallel development of refining capabilities
In the wake of an increasingly bitter trade war with China, the United States is looking inward for answers. The result could be a boon for domestic mining.
On April 18, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14241, fast-tracking 10 U.S. mining projects. To kickstart the process, Trump invoked Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which streamlines permitting for large-scale projects. Under the FAST-41 program, federal agencies work closely together to get projects off the ground, including new mines.
The initial 10 projects represent many critical minerals, including gold, silver, antimony, lithium, copper, and metallurgical coal. Each has a unique purpose and is influential in emerging high-tech applications and industries.
So, why is the United States suddenly invested in mining?
The shift coincides with rising tensions with China and increasing global demand for critical minerals. Materials like copper, antimony, and lithium are crucial for many industries, ranging from military defense and renewable energy to computing, consumer goods, and healthcare.
According to the United States Geological Survey, hundreds of products contain rare earths and other critical minerals. This includes smartphones and computers, along with specialized items like lasers, military guidance systems, sonar, and magnets.
Today, China is the leading exporter of several critical minerals, including antimony, germanium, and gallium. The Asian country handles about 70% of rare earth production and 85-90% of refining and processing.
Minerals like antimony might sound familiar to those in the wire and cable industry. Manufacturers use the element as a flame retardant and for some types of pigmenting.
Rising geopolitical tensions with China, including back-and-forth tariffs, have made it harder to import critical minerals. China has cut back on exporting certain rare earths, restricting gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite. In April 2025, the country added restrictions to other rare earths, including gadolinium and yttrium.
As friction mounts with a high-priority partner, what do we do? Is it possible for the U.S. to mine all the critical minerals it needs domestically? Will it still need Chinese imports, or can other countries suffice? Most importantly, what could a rejuvenated U.S. mining industry look like?
As of 2024, there are 25 active copper mines in the United States, though only 17 make up 99% of the nation’s copper mining production.
While 25 seems like plenty of mines, they comprise only a fraction of the world’s 800 active mines. Worse yet, the United States only has one active rare earth mine, based in Mountain Pass, CA, though the Department of the Interior recently approved a second mine nearby.
The Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine produces neodymium and praseodymium for renewable energy products like electric vehicles (EVs) and wind turbines. Despite its one location, Mountain Pass produces more than 10% of the global rare earth supply.
In 2023, the country was 100% net import reliant on 12 of the 50 critical minerals outlined by the USGS. Among those 12, seven primarily came from China.
America’s reliance on other critical minerals – though to a lesser degree – further compounds the problem. The country is 50% or more reliant on another 31 critical minerals from countries like China, Canada, and South Africa.
Basically, the U.S. lacks domestic mining and processing options and has little control over its mineral supply chain. Fast-tracking mine development under Trump could improve efficiency while reducing supply chain disruption for several industries.
President Trump’s plan to increase domestic mining relies on using FAST-41 to streamline mine permitting and development.
FAST-41 is unique because it speeds up permits for infrastructure projects in many industries, not just mining. Successful projects include water, transportation, and broadband initiatives in rural areas. Additionally, the program doesn’t change existing environmental laws and keeps safety measures.
The program has proven successful since 2015. According to Acting Permitting Council Executive Director Manisha D. Patel, FAST-41 projects received formal public decisions nearly 25% faster than others. For a government that historically is slow to react sometimes, streamlined processes are a paradigm shift.
So, what exactly qualifies a project for the FAST-41 program?
Projects must fit one of 19 industries, which include renewable energy, mining, quantum information, manufacturing, and broadband. From there, they must meet the criteria for one of four pathways and then fill out the FAST-41 Initiation Notice.
The program boasts a strong portfolio made primarily of renewable energy projects. Other successful infrastructure plans include broadband initiatives, water resource improvements, and a bevy of one-offs.
A growing number of mining projects are under review. Faster decisions and approvals may lead to more domestic production, reducing reliance on imports and improving American economic growth. If the U.S. can mine and process rare earth elements, copper, and other minerals, its capacity expands.
Eventually, it bolsters our ability to meet demand for critical minerals and rare earths. It may also shorten and stabilize the supply chain for U.S. industries.
Let’s get one thing out of the way; America can’t mine and produce all 50 minerals it needs.
The Critical Minerals Subcommittee says the country can mine many needed minerals domestically but doesn’t for economic reasons. Even if it did start mining for certain minerals, we may not become less import reliant. That’s because we currently lack the processing capacity to refine minerals for use.
“Increasing domestic mining will help reduce dependency and diversify supply for certain raw minerals,” Kris-Tech’s Supply Chain Director, Marcus Tagliaferri, said. “However, domestic refining and processing operations must also expand to support increased mining activity.”
By enacting FAST-41, the government ensures a couple of things:
Greater Public and Company Transparency – The public can see and review any information published online. This ensures an open process for everyone involved or affected by a particular project.
Reliable Timetables and Faster Processing – Companies can expect answers within a reasonable timeframe. Data from the Permitting Council suggests FAST-41 projects move much more quickly than those without support. According to the group, supported projects received a Record of Decision (ROD) nearly 18 months faster.
Communication and Collaboration – Governmental agencies work together to analyze projects, solve problems, and keep tasks moving. Agencies included in potential projects include the Department of Energy, FERC, USDA, EPA, General Services Administration, and many others.
Large-scale infrastructure projects are normally a bear, sometimes taking years to move through the permitting process. The FAST-41 program quickens the timing for critical reviews, actions, and decisions.
“It will be interesting to see how FAST impacts copper mining, as currently it’s believed to take more than a decade to start a new copper mine,” Tagliaferri said.
Although there’s a lot to get excited about, not everything about fast-tracking mining sites is as good as gold.
Environmental Review Concerns – The FAST-41 program focuses on speed, but could this lead to missing crucial details?
Quick environmental reviews may overlook information, potentially leading to more greenhouse gases, water contamination, habitat destruction, and other issues.
Human Health Concerns – Mines are huge undertakings requiring a lot of infrastructure – not all associated with the mining facility. Mining locations need access to emergency services, which can strain nearby communities. The site also needs support structures in place to ensure safety at every level.
Community Concerns – Mining sites can occupy thousands of acres, potentially displacing families, impacting Native American lands, and creating problems for nearby communities.
Mines need plenty of infrastructure, from roads and power lines to water. These needs extend to the communities around them, which must eventually support an influx of new workers and families.
America must diversify and protect its interests, but what’s the cost?
China has invested in the critical mineral market for several decades, positioning itself as a global leader. It produces the most critical minerals and does the majority of refining.
Reducing our reliance on raw materials, goods, and services from China creates friction. But it also means the U.S. can increase exports, rely less on China, and build strategic supplies.
Still, the U.S. has to play catch-up in several areas and will have to do more than open some mines. China has a strong grip on the critical mineral and rare earth mine-to-metal process. Other producing countries send the minerals they mine to China for processing.
For the U.S. to compete, it must tackle every part of the critical mineral supply chain.
Like any trade war, the back and forth between global superpowers could lead to further restrictions.
China has already placed restrictions on several critical minerals the U.S. imports. If tensions keep rising, the United States may have to look for new trading partners.
While critical minerals may be available in other countries, they could come at a steep cost or supply limitations. If this occurs, others in the supply chain could shoulder the costs.
Fast-tracking mining projects is a massive decision and will take years to reach fruition.
More mining projects increase our mineral reserves and national standing. It may also present opportunities for trading with other countries and boost overall exports. Beyond the minerals themselves, expanding domestic access to critical minerals could provide a spark for several vital industries. From clean energy and consumer technology to medicine and military defense, critical minerals help drive innovation forward.
But every decision has its fair share of consequences, and this one is no different. Fast-tracking projects could lead to a lack of oversight caused by moving too fast. The result would come at the expense of communities and the environment.
Finally, any U.S. push to wrestle control of the critical mineral supply chain from China would be perceived as a threat. The result could be further trade war escalations, leading to other retaliations.
Time will tell what happens, but the U.S. finds itself in an interesting position. Today’s decisions, no matter which way they go, will take years to come to fruition.
In the meantime, fortune might favor the bold.