Trump Launches $12 Billion Project Vault to Secure U.S. Supply Chains
Building the Great American Firewall: The $12 Billion Bet on Critical Minerals
The blueprint for America’s industrial future is being redrawn, and it looks a lot like a high-tech fortress. President Donald Trump has officially unveiled Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic mineral stockpile designed to serve as a massive shock absorber for U.S. manufacturers. While the nation has long maintained a defense-only cache, this new initiative marks the first time the private sector has been given a government-backed "vault" to shield itself from price manipulation and supply chokepoints, particularly those originating from Beijing.
The financial engine behind this move is a record-setting $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which the board is scheduled to authorize in a vote later today. Combined with $1.67 billion in private capital, this 15-year fund will be used to hoard essential materials like gallium, cobalt, and various rare earth elements. These aren't just commodities; they are the fundamental building blocks for everything from the next generation of smartphones to the propulsion systems in advanced aerospace.

