Trump Announces Creation of US Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve

US President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a “US Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve,” describing it as the country’s first civilian stockpile of critical minerals aimed at protecting American industries during times of supply disruption.

Speaking at a signing ceremony on Monday, Trump said, “We are announcing the establishment of the United States Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve. This is the first time you are hearing about a reserve of critical minerals like this.”

He said the initiative will be launched under a program known as “Project Vault,” designed to prevent shortages that could harm US manufacturers and workers. “We are starting something called Project Vault so that American businesses and workers will never be hurt by shortages,” Trump said.

The president described the move as an expansion of the United States’ long-standing approach to strategic reserves. “Just as we have long maintained a Strategic Petroleum Reserve and reserves of minerals vital to national defense, we are now building this reserve to protect American industry from future crises,” he added.

Export–Import Bank Chairman John Yovanovitch said Trump had issued “very clear guidance,” calling it a “critically important directive” that would make such a reserve possible for the first time in US history. He noted that the reserve has been structured in a way that would require no taxpayer subsidies.

Trump said the plan would combine $10 billion in financing from the Export–Import Bank with $2 billion in private-sector funding. He added that US taxpayers are expected to benefit from the interest earned on the loans used to launch Project Vault.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum credited Trump with accelerating mining permits and implementing international agreements. He said the administration would announce 11 additional countries this week joining a global coalition, which he described as a “club of nations,” with another 20 countries seeking to join.

Burgum stressed the importance of a resilient supply chain for the US economy, particularly the automotive sector. “A stable supply chain is essential for our nation and for all industries, especially the auto industry,” he said, adding that strong consumer demand made him optimistic about 2026.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent linked the project directly to national strategy, saying, “Economic security is national security. If we do not control our critical mineral resources, we do not have sovereignty.”

Critical minerals include a broad range of raw materials used in advanced manufacturing, energy systems, electronics, and defense supply chains. The issue has become an increasingly important focal point in global economic and security diplomacy, including US–India relations.

The United States has long maintained strategic reserves such as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but in recent years policymakers have identified overreliance on highly concentrated supply chains—particularly those involving China-linked processing—as a major vulnerability for key industries.