US adds helium to its list of critical materials

The United States has designated helium as a critical material, a classification reserved for resources deemed essential to national economic and security interests. The designation signals federal concern about the supply chain for the gas, which is used in areas such as medical imaging, semiconductor manufacturing, and aerospace. Officials are expected to use the designation to guide policy, research, and potential investment in helium production and supply. The source material available here is limited to a link and brief metadata, so further details such as specific officials, timelines, and policy measures could not be verified.