Report Urges Trump to Appoint Minerals Czar to Rival China Strategies

Trump should tap ‘mineral czar,’ repurpose IRA funds — report

President-elect Donald Trump is urged to appoint a “minerals czar” at the White House, reallocate unused Inflation Reduction Act funds to new mineral projects, and simplify permits for mines on federal land to compete with China, as per a new report.

SAFE, a pro-domestic energy nonprofit, proposed a series of recommendations for Trump’s administration and Congress to strengthen critical mineral supply chains dominated by Chinese-backed firms. SAFE developed the report with input from experts, including private equity firms, to guide its work with the State Department until 2027.

“Policy leaders and investors are considering the critical minerals financing gap and have varying views on markets and solutions,” stated Abigail Hunter, SAFE’s executive director. “This report clarifies the issue for both sides, offering policy suggestions to align existing support mechanisms with strategic opportunities in the minerals sector.”

The report’s authors noted the Biden administration focused on minerals for batteries but left “policy gaps” for materials vital for advanced computing, AI, and military uses. Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act investments offered limited support for upstream projects like mining and processing, which need long lead times.

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