It's not every day that Washington gets serious about rocks. But this week, both the White House and Congress decided that America's dependence on foreign rare earths is a problem they'd like to solve—preferably before the next supply shock hits.

A Two-Pronged Push for Mineral Independence

President Donald Trump kicked things off Wednesday by instructing his team to negotiate price floors on rare earths with allied nations while dangling the threat of tariffs over other trade partners. The directive stems from a 2025 investigation that concluded imports of critical minerals pose a legitimate national security risk.

Meanwhile, over on Capitol Hill, a rare moment of bipartisan cooperation is unfolding. According to Axios, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN) are introducing the SECURE Minerals Act on Thursday. The bill would establish a $2.5 billion Strategic Resilience Reserve—essentially a national stockpile of lithium, nickel, and rare earths designed to shield the economy from price manipulation and supply disruptions.

The proposed reserve would be managed by an independent board modeled after the Federal Reserve, overseeing the acquisition and storage of minerals critical to everything from defense systems to electric vehicles.

"Creating this reserve is a much-needed, aggressive step to protect our national and economic security," Young told Axios.

Translation: Washington is done being comfortable with China controlling 70% of global rare earth processing. The question now isn't whether the government will intervene, but how much capital it's willing to deploy.

Five Companies Positioned to Benefit

As federal funding, trade restrictions, and "Buy American" mandates gain momentum, a handful of companies find themselves in the right place at the right time. Here are five worth watching.

1. MP Materials Corp. (MP)

MP Materials is the only integrated mine-to-magnet rare earth producer in the Western Hemisphere. Its Mountain Pass mine in California and magnet manufacturing facility in Texas have already attracted hundreds of millions in government-backed investment and offtake agreements. If you're looking for the domestic rare earths champion, this is it.

2. Critical Metals Corp. (CRML)

Critical Metals controls the Tanbreez project in Greenland, one of the largest rare earth deposits on the planet. The Trump administration's renewed focus on Greenland's strategic resources has thrust CRML into the spotlight, making it a breakout name in early 2026 as Arctic security becomes a policy priority.

3. USA Rare Earth (USAR)

USA Rare Earth is developing the Round Top deposit in Texas, which boasts high concentrations of heavy rare earths—the kind the Defense Department cares deeply about. Management recently moved up production timelines to 2028 to sync with the administration's emergency energy directives, positioning the company as a prime candidate for federal support.

4. Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC)

Though primarily focused on lithium via its Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, Lithium Americas has become a template for how Washington approaches critical minerals. The U.S. government has taken a significant equity stake in the company, signaling that lithium, rare earths, and other strategic materials are now viewed as a unified national security concern.

5. Trilogy Metals Inc. (TMQ)

Trilogy Metals operates projects in Alaska's Ambler Mining District and received direct U.S. government equity injections in 2025. Its assets extend beyond rare earths to include copper and cobalt, both essential for the defense industrial base. The company has gained serious momentum as Washington looks to diversify its critical mineral sources.

The rare earth narrative has shifted from aspirational to operational. With billions in funding and bipartisan backing, the domestic supply chain isn't just a talking point anymore—it's becoming infrastructure.