Critical minerals are the backbone of modern technologies and national security, powering everything from advanced semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries to missile guidance systems and renewable energy infrastructure. As the global economy transitions to more diverse energy technologies, the demand for these essential materials has surged. Despite their vast importance and usefulness, the United States remains heavily dependent on foreign sources—particularly China—that dominate the global supply chain for critical minerals. This reliance threatens supply chain stability, leaving key American industries vulnerable to disruptions, price manipulations and political leverage.

We have witnessed a multitude of actions from the White House in recent weeks ranging from new executive orders to the repeal of old ones. This includes the Trump administration’s Day One Executive Order entitled Unleashing American Energy, which directs U.S. government agencies to assess several trade and national-security-related actions (including stockpiling), prioritize geological mapping, and consider support for processing of critical minerals, among other things. That is not the entire federal government response, however. A number of congressional bills—many of them with bipartisan support—have been proposed in the 2025 legislative session in an effort to boost domestic extraction, refining and production of critical minerals.

Reprinted courtesy of Ashleigh Myers, Pillsbury, Robert A. James, Pillsbury, Allan C. Van Vliet, Pillsbury, Amanda G. Halter, Pillsbury, Kelsey Parker, Pillsbury and Sahar J. Hafeez, Pillsbury

Ms. Myers may be contacted at ashleigh.myers@pillsburylaw.com
Mr. James may be contacted at rob.james@pillsburylaw.com
Mr. Van Vliet may be contacted at allan.vanvliet@pillsburylaw.com
Ms. Halter may be contacted at amanda.halter@pillsburylaw.com
Ms. Parker may be contacted at kelsey.parker@pillsburylaw.com
Mr. Hafeez may be contacted at sahar.hafeez@pillsburylaw.com