The move is one of several planned for an executive order Trump could sign as soon as Wednesday after he told Congress last week he would "take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.

U.S. President Donald Trump is looking to build metal refining facilities on Pentagon military bases as part of his plan to boost domestic production of critical minerals, Reuters reported on Tuesday,

Under the directive, the Pentagon would collaborate with other federal agencies to set up processing facilities on its military bases.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military is canceling more than 90 studies, including some that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed as climate change "crap."

The defense secretary's cluelessness was on full display in disregarding climate change's role in global conflict.