Trump administration to back US minerals projects with $500 million in grants

Earlier this month, the Trump administration blocked exports of black mass, which are filled with minerals that can be recycled. Robertson said the funding was not tied to the export block, but added that "the United States needs to and will build the ecosystem to fully recycle and process batteries and black mass here at home."

The Energy Department is also giving $50 million each to Princeton NuEnergy, which reprocesses cathode battery parts; Arcanum Ventures, which produces chemicals for battery electrolytes; and Coreshell Technologies, which is developing battery anodes made with silicon, rather than graphite, the longtime industry standard.