The White House has approved an appeal to begin construction on a 211-mile industrial road in northern Alaska, advancing a key Trump campaign promise to expand domestic mineral mining and reduce U.S. dependence on China for critical materials.
The Ambler Road Project will link the Dalton Highway to the remote Ambler Mining District, home to significant deposits of copper, cobalt, gallium, germanium, and other minerals considered essential for technologies such as renewable energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and national defense systems.
“This decision reverses years of federal obstruction and opens the door to the development of copper and cobalt vital for next-generation technologies and economic growth,” said Brent Gardner, chief government affairs officer for Americans for Prosperity.
A July 2025 report from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute found the United States relied more on imports than domestic production for all 12 minerals the U.S. Geological Survey classified as critical in 2024. The U.S. imported at least half of another 28 critical minerals that year, with China as the top supplier, followed by Canada, Japan, and South Africa.
International conflicts and bureaucratic delays continue to threaten these supply chains. The report noted that the war in Ukraine disrupted global graphite and titanium production, while Russia’s nickel exports and China’s bans on antimony, gallium, and germanium have strained availability.
Despite abundant domestic reserves, the U.S. trails other nations in mineral development, leaving manufacturers exposed to geopolitical instability and reliant on countries with weaker environmental standards.
That’s one reason the Treasury Secretary is talking up the Trump administration’s decision to create a strategic minerals reserve (SMR) to help protect the U.S. economy from sudden shifts in global supplies.
Supporters view the Ambler Road as a major step toward strengthening U.S. mineral independence.
“The Ambler Road is not just a pathway to economic growth in Alaska—it’s a strategic asset for the United States,” said Tony Giardini, president and CEO of Trilogy Metals, which is developing the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects in the district. “With support from the president and federal agencies, we’re confident this project can move forward in a way that respects both the land and the people who call it home.”
According to a White House fact sheet, the federal government holds a 10 percent stake in Trilogy Metals following a $35.6 million investment in Alaskan mineral exploration, along with warrants to purchase another 7.5 percent of the company.
The Ambler region is believed to contain extensive, undeveloped copper-zinc mineral belts and other valuable metals such as silver, gold, lead, and cobalt. The project is projected to create 2,730 jobs and generate $1.1 billion in state revenue through taxes, royalties, and claim rents.
Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, called the Trump administration’s actions “another important step to unlock the nation’s vast mineral resources and address our alarming mineral import reliance. Building the Ambler Road is critical for Alaska, for U.S. national security and for rebuilding our materials industrial base. This action is another reminder that the path towards mineral security begins right here at home.”
Like other recent mining initiatives, however, the Ambler project faces expected legal and environmental challenges.
In February, environmental groups sued the U.S. Forest Service to block the Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho, while in October 2024, activists filed suit against the Department of the Interior to overturn approval of Nevada’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine, the first lithium project approved under the Biden administration.
Critics say the Ambler Road decision ignores environmental and cultural harms. In a column for the Anchorage Daily News, engineer Lois Epstein, head of an Anchorage-based consulting firm, called the project “misguided,” arguing Alaska cannot afford construction costs and that many Alaska Native communities oppose the road.
“The proposed road would have extensive adverse impacts on salmon and other fish species, clean water, and the Western Arctic caribou herd that supports subsistence for numerous Alaska Native villages,” Epstein wrote. “Moreover, Alaska Native communities have raised concerns that the road and associated mining camps could contribute to violence against rural Alaska Native women.”
She added that 88 tribal governments have passed resolutions opposing the project.
Supporters, however, say the Ambler project represents progress toward reducing dependence on foreign supply chains and revitalizing U.S. industry.
“This approval is great news for Alaska, for jobs, for American national security, and for reducing our dependence on China for critical minerals,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). “The Ambler Access Project must be done right—with close consultation with Alaska Native and community leaders and with respect for our environment and way of life. But it’s good to see this vital project getting back on track.”
If completed, the Ambler Road could mark a turning point in the U.S. effort to secure domestic sources of critical minerals, balancing environmental concerns with national economic priorities.
Jessica Towhey writes on education and energy policy for InsideSources.
Reprinted with Permission from DC Journal – By Jessica Towhey
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
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