August 10, 2026
Col. Rob Maness: U.S. weapons supply chain faces China rare-earth test
Domestic critical-minerals production is ‘a wartime national security priority,’ retired U.S. Air Force Colonel says
GULFPORT, Miss. — Col. Robert L. Maness, USAF-ret., said today that dependence on Chinese rare-earth magnets threatens America’s ability to replenish weapons.
An Associated Press report said Phoenix Tailings received a $500 million Pentagon loan to expand rare-earth processing. Its factory could take 14 to 18 months to build. The minerals support F-35s, Tomahawks and THAAD interceptors.
“America’s urgent need to produce advanced weapons without Chinese rare-earth magnets lays bare a profound national security vulnerability that no serious defense professional can ignore,” Col. Maness said. “As a retired Air Force colonel who commanded bomber squadrons and major installations while relying on precision systems in combat, I recognize that platforms like the F-35, Tomahawk missiles, and THAAD interceptors are rendered ineffective without the critical magnets and minerals that China has long dominated.”
He added, “President Trump’s recent executive order imposing stricter bans on China-sourced components and limiting Pentagon waivers is a decisive and overdue correction that forces contractors to prioritize domestic and allied sources over short-term convenience. Innovative efforts by firms such as Phoenix Tailings, extracting these elements from mining waste with substantial Defense Department support, demonstrate the American ingenuity required to dismantle Beijing’s chokehold on processing. Yet the multi-year timelines for scaling production capacity reveal how decades of complacent policy allowed this dangerous reliance to fester under successive administrations.”
The combat veteran said, “With Middle East operations rapidly depleting munitions stockpiles and the credible threat of conflict with China on the horizon, further hesitation risks leaving our forces critically under-armed. We must treat the reconstruction of this industrial base with the same wartime urgency that once defined American manufacturing supremacy, ensuring our warfighters never confront a battlefield where essential weapons cannot be built or replenished because of foreign control.”
Col. Maness discusses citizen action in “What You Can Do About It — Taking Real Action Against Corruption, Radicalism, and Moral Decay to Save America.”
To learn more from Col. Rob Maness, USAF-ret., click here to order “What You Can Do About It” and contact media@hamiltonstrategies.com for an interview.
Col. Rob Maness, USAF-ret., is a decorated combat veteran and dynamic leader with over 40 years of experience steering complex organizations through high-stakes challenges. Maness has an unmatched track record of turning around failing systems, building high-performing teams, and delivering results under pressure — whether in war zones, corporate boardrooms or political arenas. During his military service, Maness received eighteen major awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit twice and a Bronze Star for combat leadership.
Maness’ 2013-2014 U.S. Senate run on “America First” principles rallied 210,000 votes, while his GatorPAC has brought millions of donor dollars into like-minded candidates such as JD Vance and Donald J. Trump. Through Iron Liberty Group (2013-present), he consults, hosts “The Rob Maness Show” on the WorldViewTube Network, and drives digital initiatives, showcasing entrepreneurial adaptability. His leadership — forged in combat, proven in turnarounds and fueled by a knack for inspiring teams — marks him as a force for action and impact in any arena and is showcased in his book: “What You Can Do About It — Taking Real Action Against Corruption, Radicalism, and Moral Decay to Save America.”
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To interview Rob Maness, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
