A huge national security issue threatens the Trump admin. They are on the clock to solve it.
And now the U.S. Secretary of Defense dropped jaws throughout D.C. with a major Fox News announcement.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared on Fox News, declaring that the U.S. military is working to eliminate its dependence on foreign suppliers, a reliance that has persisted for decades. Speaking on The Will Cain Show, Hegseth emphasized that the Trump administration has been aggressively tackling this issue since its inception, moving at a rapid pace to ensure the U.S. can operate independently and decisively in military endeavors.
“We will not be dependent on China. We won’t be dependent on anybody else. The American military will be able to independently operate and operate decisively. We have to. And there’s been neglect for decades,” Hegseth told host Will Cain. “President Trump has pointed out to be the best. You can’t depend on anyone else. But America first doesn’t mean America alone. We’ll stand alongside our allies, but we’re going to be able to source our munitions, our minerals ourselves.”
Hegseth highlighted a significant legislative measure that allocates billions for defense enhancements, including advanced systems like the Iron Dome, hypersonic weapons, long-range drones, submarines, and border security. He stressed the importance of ensuring that every element of the military’s supply chain is produced within the United States.
“And we’ve got the best equipment, the best capabilities in the world. We’re on hyperdrive. The one big, beautiful bill that was passed gives us $150 billion more to invest in Golden Dome, in hypersonics, in securing our border, in long-range drones,” Hegseth said. “You name it, submarines. We’re investing in it.”
The Defense Secretary mentioned the administration’s commitment to rebuilding the defense supply chain, ensuring all components are domestically sourced. “It’ll be sourced in America. Our logistics train, where we get all the aspects of the things we make has to be sourced here. We’re doing it. Our allies and adversaries understand that, and that only makes us more independent, more able to put America first,” Hegseth stated.
A report from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) warned that China’s control over more than 80% of the global lithium-ion battery supply poses a significant threat to U.S. defense capabilities. The Trump administration has prioritized reducing reliance on China for critical materials like lithium, which are vital for both economic and military functions.
“If we cannot access the raw materials and components that we need to drive our economy, our adversaries will be able to defeat us by simply withholding those indispensable inputs,” the FDD report says.
Trump Administration’s Efforts to Pressure China Economically and Diplomatically
The Trump administration has made reducing U.S. reliance on China for rare earth elements and defense materials a cornerstone of its national security and economic policy. Recognizing China’s dominance in the global supply of critical minerals—accounting for approximately 70% of mining and 90% of processing—the administration has employed a combination of economic and diplomatic strategies to counter this dependency. These efforts aim to bolster domestic production, secure alternative supply chains, and apply pressure on Beijing to mitigate its leverage over global markets.
One of the administration’s key economic strategies has been the use of tariffs to influence China’s trade practices. In early 2025, President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate with export restrictions on seven rare earth elements critical for defense and automotive industries. These restrictions disrupted U.S. supply chains, highlighting China’s ability to weaponize its market dominance. In response, the administration negotiated a trade framework in June, finalized in London, which secured China’s commitment to resume rare earth exports in exchange for reduced U.S. tariffs and relaxed restrictions on Chinese students’ visas.
Diplomatically, the Trump administration has pursued “friend-shoring” to diversify supply chains by strengthening partnerships with allied nations. A notable achievement was the memorandum of cooperation signed with Saudi Arabia during Trump’s state visit in May, alongside a deal between U.S.-based MP Materials and Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden to develop a mine-to-magnet rare earth supply chain. Similar efforts have been made with Australia, the world’s fourth-largest rare earth producer, which is expanding its processing capabilities to support U.S. needs. These partnerships aim to reduce reliance on Chinese supplies while fostering economic ties with allies.
Domestically, the administration has leveraged the Defense Production Act (DPA) to accelerate critical mineral projects. Executive Order 14241, issued in 2025, directed federal agencies to streamline permitting and fund mining and processing initiatives on public lands. The Department of Defense has invested significantly, including $400 million in MP Materials to enhance the Mountain Pass mine in California, the only active rare earth mine in the U.S. Additional investments, such as $439 million since 2020, aim to establish a fully integrated domestic supply chain by 2027, capable of meeting all defense requirements.
The administration has also taken a hardline stance against China’s economic practices, accusing Beijing of violating trade agreements, such as the Geneva ceasefire in May. In response to China’s delays in issuing export licenses, the U.S. threatened to revoke visas for Chinese students and restrict sales of semiconductor design software to Chinese entities. These measures were intended to pressure Beijing into complying with trade commitments while signaling a broader push to curb China’s technological and economic influence.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. China’s near-monopoly on rare earth processing, coupled with its history of using export restrictions as leverage—such as the 2010 embargo against Japan—continues to pose risks. U.S. refining capacity is limited, with new facilities taking years to become operational. For instance, while the Mountain Pass mine has been revived, it still sent 98% of its raw materials to China for processing as recently as 2019. The administration’s push for domestic processing facilities, supported by DPA funding, aims to close this gap, but experts warn that achieving self-sufficiency could take decades.
