Trump authorizes U.S. seabed mining in international waters

President Trump has authorized the U.S. to begin seabed mining in international waters, defying global norms and setting the nation against most others. The executive order, signed Thursday, aims to bypass a treaty ratified by nearly every major coastal nation, allowing U.S. companies to mine the ocean floor for minerals. This action disregards international consensus on shared waters. The White House claims the order establishes the U.S. as a leader in seabed mineral exploration. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will expedite mining permits.