The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a funding opportunity of up to $134 million aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains for rare earth elements (REEs). The initiative, led by the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), is intended to support projects that demonstrate the commercial feasibility of recovering and refining REEs from sources such as mine tailings, electronic waste, and other unconventional materials.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated, “For too long, the United States has relied on foreign nations for the minerals and materials that power our economy. We have these resources here at home, but years of complacency ceded America’s mining and industrial base to other nations. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing that trend, rebuilding America’s ability to mine, process, and manufacture the materials essential to our energy and economic security.”
This funding opportunity is part of CMEI’s Rare Earth Demonstration Facility program. The program seeks to establish full-scale integrated facilities within the United States capable of extracting and separating rare earth elements. The Notice of Funding Opportunity follows a previous notice released by DOE in August.
Rare earth elements like Praseodymium, Neodymium, Terbium, and Dysprosium are used in advanced manufacturing sectors including defense systems and high-performance magnets for power generation and electric motors. By investing in domestic capabilities for REE recovery and processing, DOE aims to improve energy independence for the country as well as strengthen its economic competitiveness.
Interested parties can learn more about this funding opportunity during a webinar scheduled for December 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET. Non-binding letters of intent are requested by December 10 at 5:00 PM ET; full applications must be submitted by January 5, 2026.
