Grantee examines the impact of Trump’s deep-sea mining order on Gulf states and American Samoa

President Donald Trump’s signature on company proposal highlighting potential processing plants for seabed minerals across the U.S. Gulf Coast. Included are a few of the the millions of potentially impacted sea creatures, courtesy of The World Register of Deep-Sea Species; polymetallic nodule (bottom right) courtesy of The Metals Company. Deceleration graphic.

With a seed grant from the Fund, Elyse Hauser obtained government records about deep-sea mining for minerals that can be used to make batteries, ballistics and other items. The records show that under President Joe Biden, some U.S. officials were supportive of deep-sea mining – and that support has expanded with an executive order signed by President Donal Trump, encouraging federal agencies to fast-track deep-sea mining, both inside and outside of U.S. waters. Hauser reported that some affected communities, including in American Samoa and the Gulf states, oppose deep-sea mining because of its impact on the environment.