U.S. Energy Department Announces $100 Million to Strengthen Critical Minerals Workforce

The U.S. Energy Department on Aug. 7 issued a Notice of Intent for up to $100 million to expand the domestic workforce supporting critical minerals production, processing, recovery, and recycling as the federal government seeks to strengthen supply chains for energy, manufacturing, and defense technologies. The Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies, or PROSPECT, initiative would expand educational programs, scholarships, financial assistance, curricula, teaching tools, and other incentives focused on mining, minerals, materials science, processing, and recycling.

The program’s near-term goal is to double the number of graduates with degrees related to mining, minerals, and associated supply chain technologies within two years. Over the longer term, the initiative would support the development of education and training programs intended to provide a sustained pipeline of workers for the domestic critical minerals sector.

The effort addresses workforce shortages across the U.S. critical minerals supply chain, which could constrain efforts to expand domestic production and reduce dependence on foreign sources. DOE estimates that the mining sector alone will require approximately 6,000 additional engineers over the next decade. Shortages also persist in materials science, mineral processing, and recycling, creating challenges for companies seeking to expand domestic capacity.

The initiative would direct support toward higher education programs that prepare students for these fields, including scholarships and other financial incentives. The workforce investments are intended to complement broader federal efforts to rebuild domestic mineral supply chains and increase U.S. production of resources needed for clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing, and national defense.

The latest workforce initiative follows a series of DOE funding initiatives targeting critical minerals and materials supply chains. Recent efforts include $75 million for five projects recovering critical materials from coal and coal-based feedstocks, $134 million for two rare earth element recovery and refining projects, and $45.7 million for 19 projects developing technologies for critical minerals and materials processing. DOE also issued a funding opportunity for up to $500 million for domestic critical mineral and materials processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling, underscoring the department’s broader effort to expand domestic capabilities across the critical minerals supply chain.