The Oval Office blowup between President Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelinsky may have grabbed headlines, but it hasn’t shifted the fundamental reality of America’s mineral needs. The U.S. is rich in the critical minerals essential for technology and defense, and it’s high time we start mining them. This isn’t about politics; it’s about economic and national security. The U.S. Geological Survey has flagged 50 minerals as critical, including cobalt, graphite, lithium, titanium, and uranium. These aren’t just commodities; they’re the building blocks of our technological future and military might. Ukraine, ironically, sits on significant reserves of these minerals and rare earth elements, which are far from rare but often not concentrated enough to be economically viable for mining. The real challenge is processing these minerals for commercial use, an area where China currently dominates. China produces 60% of the world’s rare earths but processes nearly 90%, giving it a near monopoly. If the U.S. wants to break this dependency, it must invest heavily in exploration and downstream processing capabilities, as Pini Althaus, founder of USA Rare Earth, advocates. However, the U.S. often impedes its own progress. The Biden administration’s reversal of the Alaska’s Ambler Access Project, which would have granted access to deposits of cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements, is a case in point. Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, highlights how such actions hinder America’s ability to access domestic supplies of critical minerals. The permitting process in the U.S. is notoriously slow and costly. It takes 29 years for a U.S. mine to go from discovery to production, the second longest timeline in the world. Federal regulators can return to mining companies with duplicative and repetitive questions at any time during the permitting process, adding millions to production costs. State and local governments add further layers of complexity. For instance, Maine’s mining laws prevent the extraction of one of the world’s largest known lithium deposits, a mineral vital to modern battery production. The federal government is beginning to acknowledge these issues. Trump’s executive order in January aimed to encourage rare earth mineral development and strengthen supply chains. Althaus suggests creating a critical minerals task force or a czar to develop a national strategy, recommending Vice President JD Vance for the role. Congress is also considering permitting reform. Last year, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the Energy Permitting Reform Act, which would have imposed a two-year permitting timeline for mineral, traditional, and renewable energy projects. Sanderson hopes the current Congress will resurrect these bills or craft new ones to unleash America’s mining potential. National security is another compelling reason to boost domestic mining and processing capacity. China and Russia’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains gives them leverage over America’s allies and assets for adversaries. The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy recommends incentivizing domestic mining production and permitting reform to increase competitiveness. Nolan echoes this sentiment, stating that American competitiveness, national security, and advanced energy ambitions depend on secure, responsible mineral supply chains. This news should spark a robust debate within the mining sector and beyond. It’s not just about economic growth; it’s about strategic independence. If the U.S. can streamline its permitting process, invest in processing capabilities, and foster a national strategy for critical minerals, it could significantly reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers. This would not only bolster the economy but also enhance national security. The path forward is clear: the U.S. must act decisively to secure its mineral future. The question is, will it?
U.S. Must Act to Secure Critical Minerals, Experts Urge
