President Donald Trump aims to build metals refining facilities on Pentagon military bases to boost domestic production of critical minerals and reduce reliance on China, according to two senior administration officials. Trump plans to sign an executive order that would direct the Pentagon to collaborate with federal agencies for this initiative.

The plan includes appointing a critical minerals czar, emphasizing the importance of refining facilities for national security and addressing concerns about China’s control over global metals processing.

Regulatory challenges remain, as there is uncertainty about how the processing facilities would comply with existing regulations like the Clean Air Act, which could complicate development.