The Senate voted 50-49 on April 16, 2026 to overturn a 20-year mining ban near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area, clearing the path for Twin Metals to reapply for an underground copper mine permit. The vote sends the resolution to President Trump's desk. Environmental groups have warned that mining in the region risks significant pollution to one of the most visited and pristine wilderness areas in the U.S., though the Trump administration has signaled openness to development in protected areas.