The US is heavily reliant on imports of certain mineral commodities that are vital to national security and economic prosperity. Dependence on foreign sources creates strategic vulnerability for both economic and military systems if supply is disrupted by geopolitical action, natural disasters, or other shocks.
The Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act, first enacted in 1939 and most recently amended in 1979, provides for acquiring and retaining strategic and critical materials to reduce dependence on foreign sources and single points of failure during national emergencies. These stored materials are collectively known as the National Defense Stockpile.
In 2018, the Secretary of the Interior published a list of 35 mineral commodities designated as critical under Executive Order 13817 (December 20, 2017).
Strategic material entries are organized by class and include one-by-one descriptions for each listed material or element.