SC Alaska News

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has expressed her support for President Trump's Executive Order titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production." The order aims to address the nation's reliance on foreign minerals, which Murkowski describes as a significant vulnerability.

"Our lack of mineral security is our nation’s Achilles’ heel—a vulnerability that leaves us at the mercy of politically unstable and often adversarial nations for the basic building blocks of modern society," said Murkowski. She emphasized that this issue is recognized by countries like China and Russia, as well as by President Trump and his team. "I appreciate their recognition of this major vulnerability and their immediate steps to tackle it."

Murkowski, who has served as Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has been an advocate for improving U.S. mineral policies for over a decade. Her efforts include the American Mineral Security Act, signed into law in 2020.

The United States' dependency on imported minerals has increased significantly over recent decades. Data from the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that in 2024, the country imported more than half of its supply for at least 46 mineral commodities, including full dependence on imports for some critical minerals like natural graphite, manganese, and gallium.

As global demand for minerals is expected to rise sharply, current U.S. policies have not kept pace with these needs. A report from S&P Global highlighted that mine permitting in the U.S., especially on federal lands, faces delays and unpredictability—issues compounded by the fact that federal lands cover a large portion of mineral-rich areas in western states and Alaska.

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