In a statement, the U.S. Department of the Interior said the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are updating policies covering all development stages to “reduce delays, improve coordination, and provide greater certainty for industry.” The department will streamline approvals for mapping, testing, and site development by cutting red tape and delegating authority, and plans to extend early exploration permits from three to five years.

The policy follows Trump’s related executive order in April, another step to speed up U.S. offshore mineral development. The U.S. aims to revitalize deep-sea mining to meet its demand for critical minerals like nickel and copper. It is also part of the Trump administration’s critical minerals strategy, which seeks to break China’s dominance in the sector and reshape the global landscape.

This push reflects the U.S. urgency to secure domestic mineral supplies, seen as key to industries like electric vehicles and renewable energy. However, it has drawn concerns from environmental groups worried about ocean ecosystem impacts, highlighting the tension between resource security and ecological protection.