The US Military’s Critical Minerals Challenge

The Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian is featured on this podcast talking about the US government established the National Defense Stockpile in 1939 to ensure that in the event of a major conflict, there would be enough raw materials on hand to continue production of vital equipment. Since the end of the Cold War, it has steadily shrunk, now just a tiny fraction of its peak size.  July 26, 2025.