Washington unlocks federal funding and oversight to safeguard a vital element for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, energy, and national security.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has officially designated helium as a critical material, citing its indispensable role in semiconductor manufacturing, energy technologies, and advanced computing, alongside heightened risks to global supply chains.
The designation opens access to federal financing for domestic helium producers and ensures closer governmental monitoring. Helium, primarily extracted as a byproduct of natural gas processing, is critical to cooling, photolithography, and leak detection in chip fabrication, as well as operations across space exploration, nuclear energy, and medical imaging.
The decision comes amidst severe global supply vulnerabilities. Exports of Qatari helium have been heavily restricted following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with strikes on Qatari infrastructure, whilst Russia introduced temporary export controls in April to protect domestic reserves.
“President Trump is bringing back America’s manufacturing industry, and that means making sure we have the materials needed to build things in America again,” said US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, emphasizing that the administration is focused on eliminating reliance on foreign suppliers for strategic materials.
Audrey Robertson, Assistant Secretary of Energy overseeing the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, warned that helium represents a potential single point of failure for US technology leadership: “Its unique properties make it irreplaceable… This is really towards the future of American competitiveness and energy security, which we believe is national security.”
Helium marks the 20th entry on the DOE’s critical materials list—following metallurgical coal in 2025—and becomes only the second gas alongside fluorine to earn the classification. The US Geological Survey had previously removed helium from its critical minerals list after assessing domestic supply as secure, but mounting geopolitical instability has reversed Washington’s stance.
Although the US remains the world’s leading producer—generating 81 million cubic metres in 2025 (roughly 43 per cent of global supply)—domestic output faces infrastructure bottlenecks. Following Congress’s 2013 directive to privatise the Strategic Helium Reserve in Texas, the Bureau of Land Management completed its sale to industrial gas giant Messer in 2024. While reserves across states like Wyoming, Texas, and Kansas remain vast, existing processing plants operate at capacity, and permitting new facilities typically takes several years.
Industry leaders and exploration firms have welcomed the move. David Isaacs, Vice-President of the Semiconductor Industry Association, reaffirmed the sector’s commitment to building supply resilience, whilst Chris Bakker, CEO of Avanti Helium Corp, noted that inclusion on the critical materials list will provide essential backing for exploration initiatives needed to maintain North American self-sufficiency.
