WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott joined a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives in a letter to Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum thanking him for his work with President Trump to protect our natural resources and federal lands, and urging the Department to restore potash and add phosphate to the DOI List of Critical Minerals for U.S. economic and food security.

Currently, the U.S. is reliant on foreign imports for nearly 85 percent of its potash needs, sourcing it from Canada, Russia, and others, while also heavily reliant on imports for phosphate from adversaries like Communist China despite an abundance in America.

Read the full letter HERE.

Dear Secretary Burgum,

Congratulations on your confirmation as Secretary of Interior. We know many pressing concerns await you as you begin your new role. We write with urgency to request that you immediately restore potash and add phosphate to the current (2022) and upcoming (2025) U.S. Geological Survey's Department of the Interior (DOI) List of Critical Minerals.

As you are aware, under the law defining critical minerals, three criteria must be met: a mineral must be essential to the economic or national security of the U.S., its supply chain must be vulnerable to disruption, and the mineral must serve an essential function in the manufacturing of a product. Both potash and phosphate fulfill these criteria, and their significance for U.S. national security, food security, and American farmers is especially critical, particularly given recent global events that have affected fertilizer markets and highlighted the risks of disruptions.

The U.S. depends on imports for approximately 85 percent of its potash needs, primarily sourcing it from Canada. Worldwide, only 14 countries produce potash, with Belarus and Russia accounting for nearly 40 percent of total production. The United States must address the growing risks to this supply chain, including a return to domestic production of potash as quickly as possible. The importance of potash to the nation’s economic and national security was recognized in 2018 when DOI included potash on its list of 35 critical minerals. However, under the previous administration, the 2022 update removed potash from the list—a decision that clearly warrants reconsideration. We appreciate President Trump’s support for reversing this in his March 20, 2025, executive order.

In contrast to potash, phosphate is more abundant in the U.S. Even so, we are heavily reliant on imports. With China and Russia—responsible for 25 percent and 14 percent of global phosphate exports, respectively—imposing export controls, the market remains highly vulnerable to supply disruptions. Adding phosphate to the U.S. Critical Minerals List would be an important step in strengthening domestic fertilizer manufacturing, stabilizing and securing this critical supply chain.

At the very heart of this issue are the American farmers who work tirelessly to feed Americans and much of the world. Fertilizers containing potash and phosphate are essential to maintaining soil fertility, improving crop yields, and ensuring consistent food production. Without access to a stable and affordable supply of these minerals, farmers face higher costs, reduced yields, and increased uncertainty —challenges that threaten their livelihoods and the food security of millions of American families.

In closing, we again ask you to take a decisive step toward securing our future by adding potash and phosphate to the U.S. Critical Minerals List. Doing so will send a powerful message that the United States is serious about safeguarding the nation’s food supply.

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