‘On par with what the DoD pursued during the Cold War’: Pentagon’s war stockpile plan hits a minerals wall

The Pentagon’s Fortress America initiative to stockpile critical minerals, fuel and munitions domestically is running into supply constraints, illustrated by a $2 billion tungsten deal that officials say will take years to fill. The plan aims to rebuild reserves on par with what the Defense Department pursued during the Cold War, but limited mining and processing capacity stands in the way. The tungsten example highlights how far the U.S. remains from securing supply chains for materials deemed essential to national security. Watch for further deal announcements and timelines for domestic processing capacity as the Pentagon works to translate the stockpile ambition into actual inventory.