US Department of Energy Designates Helium as Critical Material

The United States Department of Energy designated helium as a critical material on October 24, 2026, to strengthen domestic supply chains and support national reindustrialization. This designation brings the industrial gas under the Energy Act of 2020 framework, enabling qualifying projects to access government financing, technical assistance, and strategic partnerships.

Officials identified helium as essential for semiconductor manufacturing, quantum computing, space rockets, and medical imaging. Despite the United States producing approximately 43 percent of global helium output in 2025, the department warned that shortages could create a single point of failure for strategically important industries.

The move responds to increasing geopolitical instability, specifically citing Russian export controls imposed in April and Iranian actions including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Qatari infrastructure. These disruptions have threatened the stability of global helium exports and highlighted the risks of relying on foreign sources for materials critical to national security.