Trump’s America First Agenda Dives into Deep-Sea Mining

The White House is considering a sweeping executive order that would fundamentally reshape how the United States engages in deep-sea mining. If approved, this directive could bypass the long-standing international oversight of the United Nations-backed International Seabed Authority (ISA), ushering in a new era of fast-tracked access to valuable critical minerals such as nickel, copper, and cobalt—elements vital to the future of clean energy, national defense, and advanced manufacturing.

Two sources with direct knowledge of internal deliberations confirmed that the administration is looking to sidestep the slow-moving bureaucracy of the ISA by authorizing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to oversee permitting for deep-sea mining. This would effectively give the U.S. government regulatory authority to greenlight underwater mineral extraction in international waters, even though the U.S. has never ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which established the ISA.

Bypassing Global Institutions

At the heart of this potential executive order lies a broader geopolitical message: the United States is no longer willing to wait for global consensus when it comes to securing strategic resources. The ISA has spent years debating the environmental standards, noise levels, and sediment disturbances involved in seabed mining but has failed to reach a formal agreement. While nations like China and Russia push forward in international waters, the United States now appears poised to move unilaterally.

This strategic pivot echoes President Donald Trump’s "America First" economic policy, where international institutions are often seen as obstacles rather than partners. Just last week, the Trump administration froze contributions to the World Trade Organization, signaling yet another fracture in global cooperation frameworks. The deep-sea mining decision would be another domino falling in that same direction—less reliance on multilateral systems, more focus on national interest.

NOAA's New Role and Regulatory Challenge

If the executive order moves forward, NOAA will be thrust into a new role as the primary regulator for U.S.-backed deep-sea mining ventures. It’s a monumental shift for the agency, traditionally focused on climate research, fisheries, and weather forecasting. While NOAA does maintain a mining code under the Department of Commerce, its experience handling permits in the unexplored abyss of the ocean is virtually nonexistent.

It also raises immediate logistical and staffing questions. Like many federal agencies, NOAA has undergone staff reductions as part of a broader government efficiency initiative. How the agency will adapt to the complexities of deep-sea mineral permitting—an area fraught with environmental and technical hurdles—remains to be seen.

The Metals Company: First in Line

One company that stands to benefit significantly from the potential change is Vancouver-based The Metals Company (TMC), which has already submitted a formal request to Washington for permits to mine the seabed. TMC, which is backed by industry titan Glencore, has been critical of the ISA, claiming that the international body has become hostile to private enterprise. In a bold statement, the company declared that the U.S. represents “a regulator willing to engage with the applicants and give applications a fair hearing.”

Their main target is polymetallic nodules—potato-sized clumps of metal-rich material scattered across the seafloor. These nodules are especially rich in nickel, manganese, and cobalt, making them a potential goldmine for battery technology and electric vehicles. TMC's vessel, the Hidden Gem, has already been outfitted for commercial operations, awaiting only the final green light.

The Environmental Battle Brews

Despite commercial interest, environmental groups are sounding the alarm. Greenpeace activists recently protested against TMC’s Hidden Gem in the Mexican port of Manzanillo, underscoring concerns about unknown ecological consequences. Marine biologists warn that the destruction of ocean floor habitats, noise pollution, and the release of sediment plumes could have irreversible effects on fragile deep-sea ecosystems.

These concerns are compounded by the fact that deep-sea mining operates in areas largely untouched by human activity, making scientific understanding of the impact sparse and incomplete. Critics argue that rushing into these unexplored regions without comprehensive studies is equivalent to bulldozing a rainforest before cataloging its species.

However, proponents of seabed mining argue that the environmental toll is significantly lower than traditional land-based mining, which often involves deforestation, toxic runoff, and human displacement. With climate change accelerating and demand for critical minerals skyrocketing, supporters believe this is a necessary and more sustainable path forward.

Geopolitical Ramifications and Resource Wars

This push for deep-sea mining also plays into a much larger game of geopolitical chess. China currently dominates the production and refining of key minerals used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and missile systems. With rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, the White House sees seabed resources as a strategic opportunity to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese supply chains.

Russia, too, is moving aggressively into deep-sea exploration through its state-backed entity JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya. Smaller nations like the Cook Islands, Japan, and Norway have also expressed interest in mining within their exclusive economic zones. As the race intensifies, securing access to these undersea deposits is becoming as important as securing oil reserves was in the 20th century.

U.S. and Jamaica: Strategic Cooperation Emerging

Adding fuel to the initiative, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently met with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness to discuss joint energy projects, including seabed mining. The Caribbean region is seen as a potential launchpad for U.S.-based exploration and logistics operations. Partnerships like this could offer Washington a diplomatic counterbalance to China’s growing influence in the Global South.

Rubio’s visit signaled more than just cooperation—it was a message that the U.S. is ready to lead, not follow, in the global race for deep-sea resources.

The Future of Ocean Governance

The looming executive order would not only challenge the ISA's authority but could set a precedent for other countries to abandon multilateral frameworks in favor of unilateral action. While the ISA continues to drag its feet on rule-making, national governments and private companies are clearly losing patience.

This raises a critical question: who truly governs the global commons? If the U.S. moves ahead with NOAA-based permits, it risks undermining years of diplomatic efforts to manage the seabed as a shared resource. On the other hand, it could force the ISA to move faster and adopt clearer standards, ending years of regulatory paralysis.

Conclusion: A Deep Dive into an Uncertain Future

The White House’s potential executive order on deep-sea mining is more than just a regulatory shift—it’s a strategic statement. It blends geopolitics, economic policy, environmental science, and corporate ambition into one high-stakes decision. While supporters argue it’s time to lead and innovate, critics caution against opening Pandora’s box in one of Earth’s last untouched frontiers.

What happens next could reshape the balance of power beneath the waves. Whether it leads to innovation or irreversible damage will depend on how carefully, or carelessly, this next chapter is written.