EMA: USGS Updates to the Critical Minerals List are a Step in the Right Direction

Arlington, Va., Aug. 25, 2025 – The Essential Minerals Association (EMA) today applauded the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) draft revision to the critical minerals list, which adds copper, lead, potash, rhenium, silicon and silver, as a good start to revising the list that is vital to ensuring the nation has a supply of minerals essential to U.S. economic and national security.

“The inclusion of minerals, such as barite, potash and silver, is a step in the right direction, given their importance to agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and tech,” said Chris Greissing, EMA president. “However, we believe the list should also include a more forward-looking approach to anticipate future supply chain disruptions and shortages, rather than reactive to current issues.”

According to the Department of Interior (DOI), the draft list will guide federal strategy, investment, and permitting decisions designed to secure the minerals needed to drive the U.S. economy and protect national security. The List of Critical Minerals informs direct investments in mining and resource recovery from mine waste, stockpiles, tax incentives for U.S. mineral processing, and streamlined mining permitting.

“This proposal is a terrific first step in addressing the need to strengthen domestic mineral supply chains,” Greissing added. “We look forward to working with the Trump Administration and Congress to maximize the effectiveness of the Critical Minerals List in order to provide the support necessary to increase domestic mineral production and processing, bring manufacturing jobs back to our shores, and reduce our dependence on hostile nations for our essential mineral resources.”

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The Essential Minerals Association (EMA) is the representative voice for companies that extract and process a vital and beneficial group of raw materials and minerals, which are the essential ingredients for many of the products used in everyday life. EMA ensures that the voices of its member companies and the socio-economic benefits they provide – from mining to end-use products – are heard by government leaders as well as the general public. Visit essentialminerals.org to learn more.