The U.S. Is Rebuilding Its Mineral Supply Chain — Here’s the Opportunity

A major federal investment just reshaped the critical minerals and rare earths landscape.

In this issue of Beyond the Headlines, here’s what’s happening and what it means:

➤ USA Rare Earth Inc. $USAR ( ▼ 6.71% ) is about to get a major federal boost as Washington is taking a 10% stake in the company as part of its broader push to secure the domestic supply of critical minerals and reduce reliance on China.

➤ Another U.S. mining project is sitting on billions in metals and just reached the most important construction milestone in its history.

➤ Today’s breakdown explains how both developments fit into America’s resource-security strategy and what investors need to know as Washington increases its involvement in the materials that power defense, AI, and electrification.

Let’s jump right in.

What’s Happening 

USA Rare Earth is developing a magnet manufacturing facility in Oklahoma that’s expected to launch this year, as well as a project in Texas to mine rare earth deposits that’s slated to open in 2028.

Washington wants in.

The Department of Commerce will reportedly take a 10% stake as part of a roughly $1.6 billion pact that includes a $1.3 billion loan and $277 million in federal funding. The deal would give the Commerce Department 16.1 million shares and warrants for 17.6 million more.

It’s the latest chapter in Washington’s power move into critical minerals, which includes stakes in MP Materials Corp. $MP ( ▼ 2.25% ) , Lithium Americas Corp. $LAC ( ▼ 4.27% ) , and Trilogy Metals Inc. $TMQ ( ▼ 4.03% ) .

Why It Matters 

China controls the vast majority of global rare earth processing, which is the backbone for electronics, magnets, defense systems, EVs, and AI‑enabled hardware. The United States, by contrast, produces only limited volumes.

That imbalance has pushed Washington to accelerate domestic projects, diversify supply chains, and secure materials tied directly to national security.

Investing Takeaway 

Whether it’s rare earths, lithium, copper, titanium or graphite, the push for secure supply chains is now coming directly from Washington. Importantly, a recent news story about a move away from guaranteed price floors doesn’t change this strategy, as equity stakes, loans, permitting support, and direct investment remain the primary tools being used to build domestic supply chains. The broader theme isn’t going away, as the industries that depend on the resources for defense, AI, electrification, robotics, and aerospace aren’t slowing down.

We’ve been tracking one such company in this space that is quite literally sitting on a potential gold mine.

It’s a miner that hasn’t started production. It’s not profitable. And it’s not the kind of company we typically spotlight.

What it does have going for it is an estimated $25 billion in gold reserves … and something even more strategically important: antimony, a critical mineral used in defense tech, semiconductors and energy storage.

It also has the potential to become the only domestic source of mined antimony, effectively creating a legal monopoly in a sector where China is cutting off exports. And a major development just shifted this project from a long‑shot to a truly investable idea; something the market hasn’t fully priced in.

Here’s our full breakdown of the company.

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