Designation To Exercise Authority Over the National Defense Stockpile

The order designates the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment with authority to release strategic and critical materials from the National Defense Stockpile. It restricts any such release to situations where materials are required for use, manufacture, or production for national defense purposes only.

Releases for economic or budgetary reasons are explicitly prohibited. Before ordering any release, the Under Secretary must consult with the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies. The order preserves previously issued rules and actions unless inconsistent with its terms, and expressly leaves untouched the authorities assigned under Executive Order 13603 on National Defense Resources Preparedness.

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, who gains formal release authority; heads of relevant federal agencies, who must be consulted before any stockpile release; and defense industry manufacturers or producers who may receive released strategic materials.

Businesses and government contractors dependent on strategic or critical materials — such as rare minerals used in defense manufacturing — now have a single designated federal official who controls stockpile releases, with a clear prohibition against using those releases to address budget gaps or economic conditions.

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment holds release authority directly under statute. Before acting, the Under Secretary must consult relevant agency heads — a procedural check but not a veto. Any release must be tied to national defense use, manufacture, or production; releases for economic or budgetary convenience are barred on their face. Previously issued orders and regulations remain in effect unless inconsistent with this order. No reporting deadlines or sunset clauses are specified.