President Donald Trump announced more than $180 million in grants to boost the American mining industry through education and trade programs.
He shared the news at a mining industry roundtable attended by nearly 200 people Friday at the State Department.
During the event, Trump made several major announcements intended to support and strengthen the nation’s mining industry.
“The mining industry has never had a greater champion than President Trump,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told The National News Desk in an emailed statement. “His unprecedented support has driven record investment, streamlined permitting, and delivered real results for American workers, companies, and communities. President Trump is the first president in decades to prioritize our country’s mining industry, unleash its abundant resources, and build the next generation of American miners.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum took part in the roundtable, along with industry officials.
Educational leaders, including those from the Colorado School of Mines, also participated, with Trump announcing a $100 million grant program to strengthen the mining and critical minerals workforce. Additional funding will be provided by the military, according to a CBS report.
The grants are part of the administration’s broader push to boost American production of critical minerals such as lithium, silicon, graphite and rare-earth elements, which are key components in semiconductors, aerospace equipment and other advanced technologies.