Secretary Rubio Addresses Mining Roundtable at State Department

Why it matters locally: As the seat of the federal government, the District of Columbia is directly impacted by federal policy initiatives like the administration's focus on securing critical mineral supply chains, particularly concerning potential legislative actions or federal agency growth related to these efforts.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State Marco Rubio participated in a White House roundtable on American mining at the State Department on August 7, 2026. The event, held in the Ben Franklin Room, included remarks from both Secretary Rubio and President Trump. Secretary Rubio spoke about the importance of American mining, characterizing the topic as central to national survival. He stated that the issue had been neglected for 25 to 30 years and that the current administration was addressing these past issues. He highlighted the presence of attendees from various sectors, including government, universities, and private industry. "At the core of this is our industrial strength, but also our national sovereignty," Rubio said. He explained that this initiative aimed to prevent dependence on other countries for resources necessary for prosperity and defense. Rubio detailed the State Department's activities related to critical minerals. He noted that earlier in the year, the department hosted a Critical Minerals Ministerial. This event led to the creation of FORGE, an international partnership. The United States chairs FORGE, which focuses on leveraging public finance and diplomatic support to secure global supply chains. He stated that 11 new critical minerals agreements were signed at that meeting, bringing the total to 27 such agreements under the current administration. Rubio also mentioned Under Secretary Jacob Helberg's initiative, Pax Silica. This program partners with the private sector to invest in mining, refining, processing, and end-use applications. Rubio emphasized the State Department's commitment to using its international presence to further these objectives. He concluded by reiterating the State Department's commitment to collaborating with industry, universities, and other national elements. He expressed a commitment to working with allies to ensure diversified and reliable supply chains, aiming to prevent any country from holding resource access over the United States.