New Congressional Research Service report addresses rare earth element supply chain implications

A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on rare earth elements released earlier this month suggested that the U.S. Defense Department has yet to acknowledge the impacts of the rare earths supply chain on U.S. manufacturing and weapon systems. The CRS report stated, “clearly, rare earth supply limitations present a serious vulnerability to our national security … Yet early indications are that the DOD has dismissed the severity of the situation to date.”

The report recommends that Congress consider both long- and short-term options for securing rare earth elements, including “compiling a ‘virtual’ stockpile database, with commitments and contracts with suppliers to buy the items when needed.”