In a turn of events that should surprise absolutely no one, China implemented new export controls to reduce the flow of critical rare-earth metals shipments to the United States, highlighting a key weakness in the U.S. military supply chain.

These restrictions are more than economic maneuvers — they are a strategic weapon in a broader geopolitical rivalry. Why can China squeeze the United States like this? Because the U.S. permitting process is overly burdensome and a strategic liability.

Despite significant deposits and access to rare-earth minerals — the materials needed to build smartphones, electric cars, and critical military systems — the U.S. imported 70% of its rare-earth metal supplies from China between 2020 and 2023.

These metals are essential to our nation’s ability to

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