USDA Further Advances Trump Administration Push to Unleash Critical American Mineral and Energy Dominance

(Washington, D.C., March 16, 2026) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service today completed the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and issued the final record of decision for the Resolution Copper Project. The decision is now available on the agency's project page. This is another important project in advancing President Trump's goal of mineral independence and energy dominance by boosting domestic mineral production.

The action follows the March 13 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which upheld a district court decision denying a preliminary injunction that sought to halt the exchange. The court determined the Forest Service's final environmental impact statement constitutes final agency action, satisfying administrative review requirements. With no legal basis to prevent the transfer, the land exchange proceeded under statutory direction established by Congress in the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act.

"The national security of America depends on our ability to harness the abundant natural resources we are blessed with in this country. The Resolution Copper project is a prime example of bureaucratic and legal chokeholds preventing our rural communities, supply chains, and defense industry from producing the minerals we need right here in America," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. "Completing this land exchange unlocks a major domestic source of copper, essential for defense, grid modernization, and next-generation energy, and positions the nation to secure its future by expanding mineral production and unleashing America's full resource potential. This responsible mining project fulfills President Trump's vision of American mineral independence."

The land exchange reflects the agency's full compliance with required statutory procedures, including agency required appraisal standards and environmental review under NEPA. In addition, the record of decision authorized a special use permit for ancillary facilities on National Forest System lands, such as a powerline and a pipeline, that support mining operations.

The Resolution Copper project aligns with President Trump's Executive Orders, Unleashing American Energy and Declaring a National Energy Emergency, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, and Protecting American Energy from State Overreach by advancing the supply of critical minerals and ensuring America's energy independence.

Background

In 2014, Congress, through the National Defense Authorization Act, mandated the transfer of federal lands on the Tonto National Forest out of federal ownership to facilitate a copper mine project proposed by Resolution Copper LLC.

Resolution Copper proposed an underground copper mine approximately 60 miles east of Phoenix near the town of Superior, Arizona. Copper is essential to electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, advanced defense technologies, and modern infrastructure. The project is projected to create approximately 1,450 jobs, generate an estimated $149 million in annual wages, and contribute between $80 million and $120 million per year in state and local taxes, with an additional $200 million annually for the federal government.

The final environmental impact statement, final record of decision, and other related documents are available online at https://www.resolutionmineeis.us.

###