# Army Prepares for Critical Mineral Restrictions

Executive Order 14415 requires defense companies to stop using critical minerals sourced from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea by January 2027 unless they obtain an approved mitigation-plan waiver. With the cutoff roughly 11 weeks away, the Army expects gradual supply-chain effects rather than a catastrophic disruption. Its planned manufacturing rodeo is intended to identify domestic production gaps, while domestic capacity may not be available until 2028 or later. Defense contractors and suppliers must assess mineral provenance and prepare traceable supply-chain plans; companies with legitimate sourcing gaps may seek a waiver if they have a plan to bridge the shortfall.

- Companies supplying the Army or other defense customers should map critical-mineral sources and prepare documentation supporting traceability ahead of the January 2027 restriction.
- Contractors relying on affected sources should evaluate whether they need an approved mitigation-plan waiver and follow the waiver guidance referenced in the signal.
- The Army’s manufacturing rodeo may surface domestic production needs, but the anticipated lag in domestic capacity means suppliers should account for potential sourcing gaps beyond the 2027 cutoff.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 15, 2026

### Government Entities
- Army Materiel Command (AMC)
- U.S. Army (Army)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

### Key Quotes
> And if there’s a gap, a legitimate gap, [and] you have a plan and you need a window to see you through [to] bridge that gap, that’s what we want to know.
> — Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy

### Sources
- [As critical mineral deadline looms, Army expects to feel 'some impact' - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/10/as-critical-mineral-deadline-looms-army-expects-to-feel-some-impact) - Breaking Defense