economy
February 18, 2026
What to know about Trump's 'Project Vault' mineral stockpile
President Donald Trump‘s new critical minerals stockpile is aimed at safeguarding the U.S. supply chain from market disruptions, furthering the administration’s push to bolster domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on China.
TL;DR
- Project Vault is a new critical mineral stockpile designed to ensure uninterrupted access to minerals for U.S. industry during market disruptions.
- The initiative aims to reduce the U.S. reliance on foreign supply chains, particularly China's control over critical minerals.
- It functions as a public-private partnership, involving major tech and manufacturing firms like General Motors, Boeing, and Google.
- The U.S. Export-Import Bank is providing a $10 billion loan and nearly $2 billion in private capital to fund the stockpile.
- Participating manufacturers will make long-term commitments and pay fees to access minerals during disruptions.
- The stockpile is expected to benefit taxpayers through loan interest, offer lower borrowing costs for companies, and provide commercial offtake agreements for suppliers.
- Potential market distortions due to the stockpile's operation and future mineral sales need careful management.
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