Governor Lou Leon Guerrero of Guam first learned about the U.S. government’s plan to mine the waters around her island in late November 2023. She received a news alert from an advisor, who had shared a link about a journalist’s inquiry. When she read the article, she was shocked to discover that the Trump administration intended to lease millions of acres of seafloor around Guam and the nearby Northern Mariana Islands to mining companies. “I’ll never forget the date,” she said. “I had not heard anything about it.” She immediately reached out to the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands and then contacted Bill Hague, an official in the Department of the Interior, to express her concerns. Despite being a U.S. territory, she said, “I want you to know I don’t support this.” Hague assured her that the government would not proceed without community support. Over a year later, the Trump administration has moved forward with its plans to lease vast areas of seafloor for mining. This is part of a broader U.S. strategy to secure critical minerals like copper, manganese, nickel, and rare earth elements, which are essential for military technologies and batteries. These materials are also vital for renewable energy infrastructure and advanced electronics. In July 2024, the Marine Minerals Administration announced plans to auction access to 31 million acres of the continental shelf around American Samoa, with further auctions planned in the Marianas archipelago, which includes Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. About half of those areas are near a national marine monument established by former President George W. Bush. Local leaders and environmentalists have strongly opposed the plans, arguing that the potential ecological consequences are not yet fully understood. Earthjustice, an environmental law nonprofit, has filed lawsuits on behalf of conservation groups in American Samoa and the Marianas, claiming the federal government has not adequately assessed the impact of seabed mining on endangered species like whales and sea turtles. The Marine Minerals Administration has not commented on the ongoing litigation, but a spokesperson said the department would continue to work with territorial leaders and local communities. Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands are U.S. territories without voting representation in Congress or the right to self-determination. Unlike neighboring Pacific nations, which can decide for themselves whether to allow mining, these islands are subject to federal decisions made without their consent. Under international law, Indigenous peoples have the right to free, prior, and informed consent for projects affecting their lands and waters. However, the Trump administration has asserted its authority to proceed under U.S. law, continuing a long-standing pattern of excluding these islands’ residents from decisions that directly affect them. As a result, many feel their voices are ignored in national and international discussions.