Pentagon Launches FORTRESS America to Build Domestic War Stockpiles

The United States Department of Defense established the FORTRESS America initiative on September 30 to stockpile critical minerals, fuel, and munitions on domestic soil. The program, formally known as Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability, shifts military strategy from Cold War-era overseas stockpiling to domestic reserves to ensure operational capacity during potential cyberattacks or sabotage of power grids and manufacturing chains.

To address heavy reliance on foreign supply chains, particularly those in China, the Pentagon is funding domestic mining and processing. The Defense Logistics Agency awarded a contract worth up to $2 billion to The Elmet Group to restart tungsten production at the Springer tungsten complex in Nevada.

Despite these investments, the initiative faces significant challenges. Federal rules banning certain foreign minerals take effect on January 1, 2027, while analysts warn that building the required infrastructure will take years and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. In response to these gaps, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has pressed China to fulfill commitments regarding critical minerals, while Assistant Secretary of Defense Dale Marks is exploring public-private partnerships to fund the effort.