• The US relies on China for rare earth elements (REEs) essential to AI, autonomous systems, and precision-guided weapons.
• MP Materials' expansion aims to vertically integrate the REE supply chain within US borders.
• The DoD has committed to purchasing all magnets from the new facility and will become MP's largest shareholder.
• A domestic supply chain could counter China's head start in the field and ensure US technological competitiveness.

The US may need to treat REEs as strategic national assets, rather than commercial commodities, to ensure national security. A bipartisan path forward involves vertical integration within US borders, with the DoD playing a key role in procurement and development. This could lead to a more agile and adaptive defense industry, with a focus on openness, private sector competition, and live battlefield feedback.