Cotton, Senators to Hegseth, Lutnick: Preserve Domestic Critical Mineral Supply Chain to Beat Communist China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy October 2, 2026 Cotton, Senators to Hegseth, Lutnick: Preserve Domestic Critical Mineral Supply Chain to Beat Communist China WASHINGTON— Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with Senators John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), sent a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick encouraging action to preserve domestic manufacturing of silicon carbide to respond to Communist China’s increased production. Silicon carbide is a key component of the semiconductors that are used in advanced defense systems, AI data centers, electric grid infrastructure, 5G telecommunications, and the auto industry. In part, the Senators wrote: “We write to draw your attention to a critical matter at the intersection of national security, economic competitiveness and trade policy: the accelerating Chinese government effort to dominate the global silicon carbide semiconductor industry and supply chain, and the urgent need for a whole-of-government response to preserve and strengthen trusted domestic and allied manufacturing of silicon carbide.” Full text of the letter may be found here and below. October 1, 2026 The Honorable Pete Hegseth Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20301-1000 The Honorable Howard Lutnick Secretary of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230 Dear Secretaries Hegseth and Lutnick: We write to draw your attention to a critical matter at the intersection of national security, economic competitiveness and trade policy: the accelerating Chinese government effort to dominate the global silicon carbide semiconductor industry and supply chain, and the urgent need for a whole-of-government response to preserve and strengthen trusted domestic and allied manufacturing of silicon carbide. Silicon carbide is the foundational substrate for a critical class of next-generation semiconductors that are indispensable across advanced defense systems, AI data centers, electric grid infrastructure, 5G telecommunications, and the modern automotive sector. Silicon carbide’s unique combination of high-voltage tolerance, thermal conductivity, and switching speed makes it irreplaceable in high-performance air, land and sea propulsion systems, directed energy weapons, and air and missile defense systems. Since launching its Made in China 2025 initiative, Beijing has recognized the military and economic importance of silicon carbide and made global domination in the sector a national industrial priority. In the last five years, Chinese producers have increased their share of the global silicon carbide wafer market from less than 5 percent to nearly 50 percent today. Clearly, China intends to undermine another strategically important industry built on American technology and ingenuity. If this campaign succeeds, the United States will find itself dependent on adversary supply chains for materials essential to our most advanced defense systems and critical technological infrastructure. The domestic supply chain is already under significant pressure and we are at risk of losing industry leaders and globally competitive manufacturers to this coordinated campaign. The time to act is now, before we reach the crisis stage where remedies are impossible or far more expensive and time-consuming. We encourage you to leverage Defense Production Act authorities, critical minerals designations, Buy America requirements, and any other authorities at your disposal to ensure the U.S. can protect its silicon carbide supply chain. Sincerely, Tom Cotton United States Senator ###