Emil Michael Says U.S. Relies Too Much on Adversaries for Critical Needs

The Reality of Our Dependence

Under Secretary of War Emil Michael spoke at a policy event in Washington. He told the room that the United States has become too reliant on foreign enemies. According to Breitbart, he said the nation depends on adversaries for batteries, magnets, and medicine. This is not the way a strong country should operate. Michael asked a hard question to the people in the room. What path leads us to a situation where this nation, the most powerful economic engine in world history, relies excessively on an adversary rather than an ally for its essential requirements? He noted that this reliance started because leaders thought major wars were over. That assumption cost American towns their jobs and their future.

The damage was done when capabilities moved overseas. Michael stated that the government must fix the mistake by bringing work back home. He explained that they cannot bring back everything, but they must secure what matters most. The focus is on chips, minerals, and batteries needed for defense.

Building a New Industrial Base

The Department of War is moving fast to change the supply chain. New factories are rising in Arizona and Ohio to make chips. New missile plants need skilled metal workers and machinists. Data centers require huge amounts of electricity and gas turbines. The push for critical minerals means new mines and refining shops are needed. Michael cautioned that the nation currently lacks hundreds of thousands of electricians and workers. These are not low-wage jobs.

Many people worry about artificial intelligence taking jobs. Michael offered a different view on the technology. He called this a twist we have not seen in the last 25 years. He also pushed back against groups opposing new data centers. He said it is odd to fight these centers when they create great work opportunities. Since January 2025, the administration has signed or approved 160 minerals deals valued at nearly $40 billion. The latest deal came on August 7, with over $2 billion announced at a White House mining roundtable.

Modernizing for the Future

Michael also discussed the need to update old defense systems. He told the event that most equipment today was built for the Cold War. “I think it was said in the context of we’ve asked for one historic increase for one year, and the reason is that most of the systems we have today were designed and built for the Cold War,” he revealed, according to Breitbart. Big planes and aircraft carriers were great assets once. But they may not work the same way in a modern battle. He noted that drones and robots are now on the front lines. You need to invest in new tech to keep the country safe.

He said the shift will eventually lead to a normal budget level. “You keep the old stuff, you build the new stuff, and then the shift, the mix of what you build in the future shifts,” he said. The government has already invested in specific companies to help this goal. The budget includes $1.4 billion for battery maker Sila Nanotechnologies and $150 million for Niron Magnetics. Michael toured an Oshkosh Corporation plant in Wisconsin the day before the event. That plant has built over 25,000 tactical vehicles since 2015. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the same facility as part of a tour. The work to secure the nation’s future is already underway.