On March 13, 2026, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) titled “Adjusting Certain Delegations Under the Defense Production Act.” As we have covered in prior blog posts, the Defense Production Act (DPA) has traditionally been considered the primary federal means to manage and support defense production.
Continue Reading “Adjusting Certain Delegations”: New Executive Order Aims to Streamline and Clarify Delegated Authorities Under the Defense Production ActCritical Minerals
DOE Announces Funding Opportunity for Domestic Critical Materials Processing, Recycling, and Manufacturing
Posted in Critical Minerals, Energy
On March 13, 2026, the Department of Energy issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for projects supporting the development of domestic processing, manufacturing, and recycling capabilities for battery materials. With $500 million in total available funding, the NOFO solicits proposals in three topic areas: (1) domestic critical minerals processing from raw feedstocks, (2) domestic critical minerals recycling, and (3) domestic battery materials and component manufacturing. Letters of intent are due March 27, 2026, and full applications are due April 24, 2026.
Continue Reading DOE Announces Funding Opportunity for Domestic Critical Materials Processing, Recycling, and ManufacturingDefense Industrial Base Consortium Issues New Critical Minerals Request for Project Proposals
By Stephanie Barna, Gabe Neville & Eunsun Cho on
Posted in Critical Minerals, Defense Industry
Introduction
On February 27, 2026, the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) issued a new Request for Project Proposals (RPP) focused on Strategic and Critical Materials. Phase 1 submissions are due March 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern).
This solicitation represents the second DIBC RPP targeting critical minerals since the issuance of Executive Order (EO) 14241, “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.” The EO directed federal agencies to expand domestic access to critical minerals and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
Continue Reading Defense Industrial Base Consortium Issues New Critical Minerals Request for Project ProposalsFederal Push for Critical Minerals Stockpiling: 2025 in Review and Outlook for 2026
By Peter Terenzio & Eunsun Cho on
As the federal government focuses on securing reliable supplies of critical minerals, stockpiling has emerged as a key policy tool, alongside direct investments in private enterprises and expanded funding programs for industry. The National Defense Stockpile (“NDS”) currently serves as the federal strategic reserve of materials needed for national defense, including critical minerals, and the growing policy attention has prompted new proposals and initiatives for upgraded federal stockpiling capabilities. This blog post reviews the NDS and its activities last year and offers an outlook for critical minerals stockpiling in the year ahead.
Continue Reading Federal Push for Critical Minerals Stockpiling: 2025 in Review and Outlook for 2026