Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Interior Department fast-tracks fossil fuel and mining permits via emergency declaration — The US Department of Interior announced plans to drastically accelerate permitting for fossil fuel and mining projects, citing President Trump's "energy emergency" declaration. The move reduces environmental review timelines from multiple years to a maximum of 28 days—standard environmental impact statements from two years to under one month. The department invoked emergency powers under the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. Environmental groups immediately challenged the legality of the action, arguing no genuine energy emergency exists and the move circumvents core environmental protections.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs Executive Order 14285 directing accelerated offshore seabed mineral extraction and exploration — President Trump signed Executive Order 14285 on April 24, 2025, directing federal agencies to expedite permitting and licensing for seabed mineral exploration and commercial recovery in U.S. waters and international areas. The order mandates streamlined processes for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of Interior to issue permits within 60 days, establish domestic processing capabilities, map priority seabed areas, and engage international partners. The stated goal is to secure critical minerals (nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, titanium, rare earth elements) independent of foreign suppliers and counter Chinese influence over seabed resources.
• Trump signed executive order on deep-sea mining — On April 24, 2025, Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting the deep-sea mining industry as part of a push to offset China's control of the critical minerals industry. A Trump official stated "We want the US to get ahead of China in this resource space under the ocean, on the ocean bottom." The order represents Trump's latest attempt to boost US production of nickel, copper and other critical minerals used widely across the economy.
• Trump issues executive order to accelerate offshore seabed mineral extraction and processing — President Trump signed an executive order on April 24, 2025, directing federal agencies to expedite permitting and licensing for exploration and commercial recovery of critical minerals from seabed resources in U.S. waters and international areas. The order establishes a 60-day timeline for the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of the Interior to streamline approval processes, map priority seabed areas, and coordinate with allies on mineral development partnerships. It aims to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign suppliers for minerals essential to defense, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14285 directing expedited permitting for offshore seabed mineral extraction — President Trump signed Executive Order 14285 on April 24, 2025, establishing policy to accelerate U.S. development of seabed mineral resources. The order directs the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior to expedite permitting for exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits for polymetallic nodules and other critical minerals in areas beyond national jurisdiction and within the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. It mandates reports within 60 days on private sector opportunities, processing capacity, international partnerships, and feasibility of using the National Defense Stockpile for seabed minerals. The order frames seabed mineral access as essential to national security and economic independence from foreign suppliers.
• White House issued fact sheet on Trump executive order for offshore critical minerals development — The White House published a fact sheet on April 24, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing accelerated exploration and commercial recovery of deep seabed minerals. The order instructs the Secretaries of Commerce, Interior, Energy, and State to expedite permitting, map priority seabed areas, establish domestic processing capacity, and engage international partners. The fact sheet claims the order positions the U.S. as a "global leader in seabed mineral exploration" and strengthens partnerships to "counter China's influence."

Supporting reports

• White House celebrates Earth Day with statement on environmental stewardship and resource extraction — On Earth Day 2025, the White House under President Donald J. Trump issued a statement claiming "we finally have a president who follows science," emphasizing policies rooted in American stewardship of natural resources and explicitly rejecting the "Green New Scam." The statement highlighted the administration's commitment to "opening more federal lands and waters for oil, gas, and critical mineral extraction" as a core environmental policy.
• White House issues Earth Day release claiming Trump administration follows science on environment — The White House published a promotional release on Earth Day asserting that the Trump administration's environmental policies are "rooted in reality" and "rooted in the belief that Americans are the best stewards of our vast natural resources." The release claims the administration is promoting energy innovation including carbon capture, nuclear energy, and geothermal power; championing forest management and logging expansion; ending paper straw mandates; cutting emissions regulations for coal plants; opening federal lands for oil, gas, and mineral extraction; and pausing wind projects to protect wildlife. The release characterizes prior climate policies as "virtue signaling" and a "Green New Scam."