Pentagon Initiates FORTRESS America to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains Amid Foreign Reliance
The Pentagon has launched 'FORTRESS America,' an initiative aimed at stockpiling critical minerals, fuel, and munitions on U.S. soil to ensure military operations can continue even if domestic power grids and manufacturing supply chains are disrupted by cyberattacks or sabotage. This program, formally established on September 30, is designed to enable U.S. forces to operate for 90 days without relying on external grids. The U.S. defense industry is heavily dependent on foreign supply chains for raw materials, particularly rare-earth magnets. In 2025, the U.S. imported approximately $60 billion worth of critical minerals, excluding rare earths. Domestic sources supplied only 300 metric tons of the 48,000 metric tons of rare-earth magnets demanded in 2025, with capacity projected to reach only about 5,000 metric tons by the end of this year. China's dominance in critical mineral processing has led to shortages for American companies, even during peacetime. The initiative reflects growing concerns that U.S. f...