American Thought Leaders Secretary Doug Burgum: Inside Our Strategy to End China’s Stranglehold on Critical Minerals
Oct 8, 2025
Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, sheds light on America's struggle against China’s dominance in critical minerals. He emphasizes the urgent need to revive U.S. mining and outlines the strategic risks of relying on China for rare earths. Burgum discusses the Trump administration's initiatives to enhance energy production and secure supply chains, while also addressing the impact of the government shutdown on his department. He connects energy expansion to national security, including its role in winning the AI arms race.
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China’s Rare Earth Refining Monopoly
- China controls most global refining for key rare earths, creating a strategic choke point for tech and defense supply chains.
- Doug Burgum argues the U.S. must rebuild domestic mining and refining to secure national and economic security.
Mountain Pass Near Collapse Example
- Burgum recounts Mountain Pass nearly collapsing after China dumped minerals and depressed prices, leaving them without capital access.
- The Department of Defense then took a minority equity position to prevent a shutdown and signal market support.
Use Public Signals To Stabilize Markets
- Use government minority equity investments and tariffs to stabilize critical-mineral markets and attract private capital.
- Signal-backed partnerships protect nascent U.S. firms from predatory foreign dumping and revive domestic mining.