U.S. Boosts Critical Mineral Independence with Mountain Pass Project

The U.S. government is ramping up efforts to secure domestic critical mineral supplies through a major expansion of the Mountain Pass rare earth facility in California. With support from the Department of Energy and private firm MP Materials, the project will scale up processing capacity for essential materials used in EVs, defense systems, and renewable energy. The initiative is part of a broader national strategy to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly China.