Why It Matters

The Trump administration's minerals investment announcement included more than $2 billion in critical mining and mining-related projects, while a July executive order directed the Department of War to develop requirements for more comprehensive mapping of critical defense supply chains. Now the House Ways and Means Committee is convening Sept. 2 to examine strategic partnerships and supply chain security, a hearing that will test how lawmakers approach growing concerns about access to critical resources.

China has tripled the number of mineral tariff codes subject to export controls since 2023, according to the International Energy Agency's Global Critical Minerals Outlook.

The Big Picture

The Trump administration's minerals investment announcement included over $180 million in mining school investments alongside more than $2 billion in critical mining and mining-related projects.

A July executive order directed the Department of War to develop policy and implementation guidance requiring prime contractors and subcontractors to map critical supply chains for acquisitions related to national security, from raw materials through finished products. The order directs the department to promulgate implementing regulations after completing that guidance.

Lobbying disclosures reveal sustained corporate interest in critical minerals policy. TechMet Ltd. lobbied on advocacy related to securing critical minerals supply chains through the third quarter of 2025 before filing a termination disclosure in the first quarter. Energy Fuels Resources Inc. has maintained a lobbying presence across multiple quarters, focusing on domestic uranium, critical minerals and rare earth element supply chains, including work on the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025.

The Bottom Line

House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) will convene the full committee hearing, titled "Strategic Partnerships to Secure Critical Resources and Supply Chains," on Sept. 2. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) serves as ranking member and Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) as vice ranking member. The committee has not yet publicly listed witnesses.

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