Washington, DC — Responding President Trump’s Executive Order, Securing America’s Defense Supply Chains and Ensuring Domestic Acquisition of Critical Materials, Abigail Hunter, Executive Director of SAFE’s Center for Critical Minerals Strategy, gave the following statement:
“This order aligns the Department of War’s waiver requirements with the Administration’s broader critical minerals strategy. Building resilient supply chains requires building from both ends.
The success of critical minerals projects starts and ends with demand, and this order is the clearest signal yet that federally backed supply and Pentagon demand are meant to connect.”
The Executive Order encourages defense contractors to qualify new domestic sources of critical minerals, materials, and components from the U.S. and partner countries; further limits waivers for sensitive materials sourced from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran under 10 U.S.C. § 4872 to prime defense contractors and subcontractors; and directs the Department of War to initiate regulation that will comprehensively map critical supply chains related to defense acquisitions.
This aligns with traceability recommendations from SAFE and its Center for Critical Minerals Strategy. The Pillars of Power report emphasized that the Department of War should “map military supply chains to identify critical material requirements and require new procurement contracts to include an obligation for suppliers to map materials and components used to manufacture purchased items or equipment.”
SAFE’s Minerals Center remains highly engaged on critical minerals sourcing restrictions, most recently analyzing a proposal in the House Armed Services Committee’s FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would significantly amend the current sensitive materials restriction in 10 U.S.C. § 4872 with a new tiered sourcing framework and waiver conditions, similar to those in the Executive Order.
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About SAFE
SAFE is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization committed to transportation, energy, and supply chain policies that advance the economic and national security of the United States, its partners, and allies. Since 2004, SAFE has worked with its Energy Security Leadership Council—a peerless coalition of current and former Fortune 500 CEOs and retired 4-star admirals and generals—to support secure, resilient, and sustainable energy solutions. Learn more at SecureEnergy.org.
