Securing America's Critical Minerals: A Strategic Approach

The United States' reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals has raised concerns about supply chain disruptions and national security. To address this issue, the U.S. government has implemented a strategic approach to secure America's critical minerals. This article explores the challenges, the government's strategy, and the role of community engagement in this process.

The U.S. is heavily dependent on foreign sources for critical minerals, with 31 out of 35 minerals being import-reliant (Commerce.gov, 2019). Additionally, the U.S. lacks domestic production for 14 critical minerals, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions. To mitigate these risks, the U.S. government has developed a comprehensive strategy to secure critical minerals.

The Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals (2019) outlines four key actions to address the challenges of supply chain disruption and foreign dependence. First, the strategy aims to reduce reliance on critical minerals by advancing research and development of recycling and reprocessing technologies, as well as exploring technological alternatives. Second, it seeks to improve understanding of domestic critical mineral resources through enhanced mapping and data accessibility, supporting private sector exploration. Third, it encourages international cooperation and trade with allies to diversify supply sources. Lastly, it plans to streamline permitting processes to increase domestic production and refining.



The U.S. government's strategy also emphasizes the importance of balancing domestic mineral production with environmental and social concerns. The strategy encourages public engagement and tribal consultation, including negotiating specific community benefits from new recovery operations. This approach aims to create deeper acceptance of facilities that may have environmental effects and offer additional employment opportunities in economically depressed communities.

In conclusion, the U.S. government's strategy to secure America's critical minerals addresses the challenges of supply chain disruption and foreign dependence through a comprehensive approach. By advancing research and development, improving understanding of domestic resources, enhancing international cooperation, and streamlining permitting processes, the U.S. seeks to mitigate risks to its supply chains, reduce vulnerability to foreign disruptions, and support economic security and national defense. The strategy also emphasizes the importance of community engagement and tribal consultation, ensuring that the pursuit of critical minerals is balanced with environmental and social concerns.