US President Donald Trump is pushing to establish metals refining facilities on Pentagon military bases as part of his strategy to boost domestic production of critical minerals and counter China’s dominance in the sector, two senior administration officials told Reuters.
The initiative is among several measures under consideration for an executive order that Trump could sign as soon as Wednesday. Last week, he informed Congress that he would “take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.”
As outlined in the proposed order, the Pentagon would collaborate with other federal agencies to develop processing facilities on its bases, the sources said. They were not authorised to publicly discuss internal administration deliberations.
Placing such facilities on military bases would highlight the significance Trump places on critical minerals for national security. Fighter jets, submarines, ammunition, and other military equipment rely on minerals that are currently processed by Beijing.
Trump also intends to appoint a critical minerals czar to oversee efforts, similar to past administrations’ approaches in coordinating Washington’s focus on other strategic areas, according to one of the sources. The plans remain under discussion and could change before Trump signs the order, the sources added.
Some administration officials grew concerned after early indications that China might restrict exports of critical minerals, potentially in retaliation for Trump’s tariffs or for other geopolitical reasons, a person familiar with the matter said.
The National Security Council did not respond to requests for comment.
With the Pentagon managing approximately 30 million acres of land, the plan would ensure ample space for refining facilities while bypassing the controversies that sometimes arise when such projects are proposed in local communities. It would also eliminate the need to purchase private land or rely on property controlled by other federal agencies.
By focusing on metals processing rather than a broader overhaul of US mine permitting, the plan may face pushback from US mining companies. However, it aims to address long-standing concerns from manufacturers about China’s overwhelming control of the global metals processing industry.
China is the world’s leading producer of 30 of the 50 minerals classified as critical by the US Geological Survey.
It remains unclear how the proposed processing facilities would navigate regulatory challenges, as Pentagon bases are still subject to the US Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. These environmental regulations have previously impeded private-sector development of similar projects.
REUTERS
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