Rep. Palmer Warns of National Security Threat from Rare Earth Dependence

Highlights

• Rep. Gary Palmer warns America lacks major rare earth refining capabilities in the Western Hemisphere.
• China currently controls 94% of global rare earth mineral refining and is the dominant global deposit holder.
• The U.S. risks losing strategic autonomy without reclaiming control of the critical mineral supply chain.

At a House Energy Committee hearing Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL (opens in a new tab)) issued a stark warning: America has no major rare earth refining capability in the Western Hemisphere, while China controls 94% of global refining and dominates global deposits. Palmer urged the Trump administration to streamline permitting and unlock domestic resources—including rare earths in coal ash and electronic waste—to rebuild U.S. mining, processing, and refining capacity.

EPA Chief Lee Zeldin (opens in a new tab) agreed, framing rare earth independence as both an economic and national security imperative. With bipartisan concern mounting and the Trump administration prioritizing “energy dominance,” policy reform and industrial action may soon follow. The U.S. risks losing strategic autonomy unless it reclaims control of its critical mineral supply chain, cites Yellowhammer News.

But does this represent simply more talk? Or will President Trump’s executive orders and associated actions, combined with various market movements in response to the trade war, accelerate American rare earth resilience efforts?  At best, the nation is several years away from true systematic independence, that is, if proper industrial policy were implemented yesterday.