Trump’s mining push exposes anxiety? US wants critical minerals, magnets & weapons supply chains

President Donald Trump used a State Department roundtable with mining executives, educators and officials to announce a major push for U.S. critical-mineral production, including more than $2 billion in mining and related projects and more than $180 million for mining schools and workforce training. The stated goal is to reduce reliance on foreign mineral supply chains needed for defense, batteries, magnets, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing; Trump also said the administration would fast-track mine approvals and expand domestic extraction, processing and refining.