U.S. Accelerates Permitting for Critical Mineral Projects

In early May 2025, the U.S. federal government expanded its efforts to expedite domestic critical mineral production by adding ten new mining projects to the FAST-41 permitting initiative. This move, part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to enhance national energy security and reduce reliance on foreign mineral imports, brings the total number of fast-tracked projects to twenty. The FAST-41 program, established under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, aims to streamline the federal permitting process for significant infrastructure projects, including those related to critical minerals essential for technologies like electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and defense applications.