The ocean lease tracts off American Samoa offered in the November 19, 2026 auction target potato-sized polymetallic nodules on the seafloor that contain critical minerals including cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and nickel

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The November 19, 2026 lease auction marks the first time the United States government has offered offshore leases for deep-sea seabed mining

Acting Marine Minerals Administration Director Mike Olsen stated that critical minerals represent vital strategic assets necessary for domestic supply chains, national defense, and energy efficiency goals

On October 19, 2026, the Marine Minerals Administration announced a November 19, 2026 lease sale offering nearly 32 million acres across two offshore areas near American Samoa for deep-sea mining

Marine Minerals Administration Director Mike Olsen stated that the Marine Minerals Administration must balance national security goals with environmental stewardship and engagement with American Samoa leadership

Winning auction bidders in the November 19, 2026 lease sale off American Samoa will receive rights to conduct preliminary activities like mapping, but will not automatically gain permission to start commercial mining operations

The Treasury Department established the Investment Security Technology Initiative to monitor pre-commercialized emerging technologies in universities and corporate research and development.

The Investment Security Technology Initiative focuses on anticipating national security risks in sectors including quantum computing, supercomputing, hypersonics, and biotechnology.

During his October 10, 2026 rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, President Donald Trump highlighted Korea Zinc's $6.6 billion planned investment in a new critical-minerals smelter and General Motors' $275 million investment in Spring Hill.