Energy, environment and natural resources

Executive Order 13817: A Federal Strategy To Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals

President: Donald J. Trump

Directed a critical-minerals list and federal supply strategy; Interior published a 35-mineral list in 2018.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13817 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13817 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13817 do?

EO 13817 directed Interior to identify critical nonfuel minerals vulnerable to supply disruption and agencies to develop a federal strategy for reliable supply, recycling and substitutes. Interior finalized an initial list of 35 minerals in May 2018. Congress later provided a recurring list process in the Energy Act of 2020, and USGS has published newer lists. The 2018 list is historical; inclusion of a mineral did not itself approve a mine or waive environmental review.

Administration position: The order’s supply-risk assessment was a policy basis; later lists use updated evidence and statutory criteria.
SignedDecember 20, 2017
Initial list35 minerals in May 2018
Later lawEnergy Act of 2020

Before and after

Before the order

Federal mineral programs lacked this ordered list and whole-government strategy.

After the order

Interior issued the list and agencies pursued later supply work.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
InteriorPublish critical-minerals listInitial list in 2018
Federal agenciesDevelop supply-chain strategySeparate agency action

What happened next

EO 13817 signed.

Interior published a 35-mineral list.