Montana Seeks Defense Funding for Rare-Earth Projects

The Montana Environmental Quality Council, working with the Montana Mining Association, asked U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to authorize and appropriate funding to the Army’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation account for a Rare Earth and Critical Minerals Extraction Demonstration project.

Council presiding officer Rep. Paul Fielder said the request aims to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and strengthen national security by reducing reliance on foreign critical mineral supplies. He noted there are uncommitted, shovel‑ready funds from the prior budget year.

Environmental groups including the Montana Sierra Club and the Montana Environmental Information Center signaled conditional support but warned against allocating funds to exploratory work in the Bitterroot River headwaters. MMA director Matt Vincent said selected sites are legacy or permitted operations with initial sampling indicating appreciable concentrations of target elements.

At Rep. Josh Seckenger’s suggestion the council amended the letter to list included sites - Anaconda, Antonioli, Berkeley Pit, Black Butte Copper and Sibanye Stillwater - as a first phase, with others possible later. The council approved the request 14‑1.