Federal Projects Streamline Essential Mineral and Energy Infrastructure Developments Across the U.S.
The United States government is taking steps to simplify the process of securing federal funding for energy infrastructure and critical mineral projects. On June 30, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum titled 'Simplifying the Funding of Energy Infrastructure and Critical Mineral and Material Projects'.
The Memorandum mandates multiple governmental agencies to share data related to their funding application processes and existing commitments for energy infrastructure and critical mineral projects. This data sharing is aimed at accelerating domestic infrastructure and critical minerals funding, a key priority for the current administration.
One of the key initiatives outlined in the Memorandum is the development of a centralized 'common application' for Federal funding opportunities in these industries. The Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are required to develop this common application within 180 days (December 27, 2025).
The common application aims to eliminate redundant processes and improve strategic investment in energy infrastructure and critical minerals industries. However, it may not cover both grant and loan functions, or certain programs may seek exemptions for all or part of their application process. The role of the NEDC in the consolidated application process is described as a 'coordinating function' between agencies, but details about its exact duties are unclear.
The Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, which has a staff of over 200 to evaluate loans and loan guarantees for cutting-edge energy technologies, is among the agencies expected to participate in the common application process. The Department of Defense has also made a multibillion dollar, multi-stage funding commitment to MP Materials, the country's largest domestic rare earth metals refiner.
The USDA's Rural Development program, which offers grants and loans for projects in rural areas from offices in 47 different states, is another agency likely to be involved. The Department of Defense's Office of Industrial Base Policy, which invests millions each year in projects to bolster America's supply chain resilience, including critical investments into the mining and minerals processing industries, is also expected to play a role.
The Memorandum follows an array of recent Executive Orders that focused on energy infrastructure projects and critical minerals. If the NEDC is able to consolidate these applications efficiently, the pace of new investments in energy infrastructure and critical minerals projects could increase significantly. The deadline for governmental agencies to modify their information-sharing policies and initiate rulemaking proceedings is August 29, 2025.
The scope of the information to be shared by the individual agencies remains unclear, as does the exact role of the NEDC in the consolidated application process. Despite these uncertainties, the Memorandum represents a significant step towards streamlining applications for Federal funding in energy infrastructure and critical mineral industries.
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