President Trump’s Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy: US Department of Energy Crucial in National Defense
In August, the DOE announced nearly $1 billion in funding opportunities to strengthen the United States’ critical minerals and materials supply chains. Launched under President Trump’s Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy, the initiative aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers by boosting domestic mining, processing, and manufacturing.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that reshoring critical material production is essential for national security, energy independence, and industrial competitiveness, noting that “for too long, the United States has relied on foreign actors to supply and process the critical materials that are essential to modern life and our national security.”
The funding will be spread across several strategic initiatives. A $50 million Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator will advance technologies for rare-earth magnets, semiconductors, lithium extraction, and byproduct recovery. The Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains will provide up to $135 million to enhance domestic refining and recovery of rare earth elements, requiring partnerships with academic institutions.
Another $250 million program will pilot the recovery of valuable minerals from industrial processes, including coal-based industries, to reduce risks at commercial scale. In addition, $500 million will go toward battery materials processing, manufacturing, and recycling to expand domestic capacity for lithium, nickel, graphite, copper, and other key inputs.
The DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) will also invest $40 million through its RECOVER program to extract critical minerals from industrial wastewater, complementing traditional mining.
The U.S. Department of Energy plays a critical but often overlooked role in national security. Beyond energy production, its responsibilities include maintaining the nuclear deterrent, protecting energy infrastructure, leading cybersecurity and emergency response efforts, and managing strategic resources.
Through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the Department oversees nuclear weapons stewardship, as well as nuclear propulsion for the U.S. Navy, and the security of dangerous nuclear materials worldwide.
Energy security is further reinforced by the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), the world’s largest emergency crude oil supply. Stored in Gulf Coast salt caverns, the SPR has an authorized capacity of 714 million barrels; as of March 2025, it held 395.3 million barrels, equal to about 19 days of U.S. consumption or 47 days of imports. Recent bipartisan legislation seeks to ban SPR sales to adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, underscoring its strategic importance.
The Department is also investing nearly $1 billion to strengthen domestic critical mineral supply chains, expanding mining, processing, and manufacturing capacity for rare earths, semiconductors, and battery inputs. These programs aim to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, secure key industries, and counter China’s dominance in global critical minerals markets.
The Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) leads the Department of Energy’s efforts to strengthen the resilience of U.S. energy infrastructure. As the Sector Risk Management Agency, CESER coordinates with intelligence and law enforcement to defend against physical and cyber threats.
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