President Donald Trump’s focus on securing the domestic rare earth minerals market puts the White House in a bind: Does it ignore its promise to deregulate?

Trump, shortly after returning to office in January 2025 for his second, nonconsecutive term, invoked the Defense Production Act through several executive orders, citing the Cold War-era law in an effort to increase competition while reducing reliance on imports. Specifics included aiming to boost rare earth mineral production for national security purposes.