The U.S. Department of the Interior, through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), has released its final 2025 List of Critical Minerals. The updated list now includes 60 mineral commodities, an increase from the initial 35 minerals identified in 2018. This expansion follows President Trump's 2017 Executive Order 13817, which called for a federal strategy to ensure secure and reliable supplies of critical minerals.
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) responded to the publication with a statement: “Through its publication of the final list, the Trump administration is highlighting the importance of critical minerals in powering our economy, national security, and everyday lives. I look forward to working with administration partners on increasing domestic mining and securing our mineral supply chains to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries like China.”
The announcement also outlines a plan aimed at addressing vulnerabilities within these mineral supply chains. In recent years, the House Committee on Natural Resources has conducted oversight hearings during both the 118th and 119th Congresses focused on domestic mining and efforts to strengthen mineral supply chains.
