White House Seeks Equity Stake in Thacker Pass Lithium Project
On September 23, 2025, U.S. officials confirmed discussions about taking an equity stake in the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada, developed by Lithium Americas with General Motors as a major partner. The move reflects the Biden administration’s strategy to secure domestic supplies of critical minerals essential for electric vehicles and grid storage. Yet the announcement coincided with renewed protests from Indigenous tribes and environmental groups, illustrating how state-backed involvement does not erase persistent questions of legitimacy.
Sacred Sites and Consultation Disputes
For the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes and allied groups, Thacker Pass is not just a resource deposit but a sacred site tied to cultural history and burial grounds. They argue that permitting processes failed to uphold free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) and that environmental assessments underestimated impacts on water and ecosystems. Lawsuits and demonstrations have kept the project under constant scrutiny, with opponents warning that federal ownership would further politicize a conflict already rooted in cultural and ecological concerns.
Implications for U.S. Critical Mineral Strategy
The clash at Thacker Pass exemplifies the intersection of political risk and social license to operate. While Washington frames domestic lithium as a national security priority, local resistance threatens to delay or complicate development. The project has become a bellwether for how the U.S. balances energy transition imperatives with Indigenous rights and environmental safeguards. Without trust and meaningful engagement, government equity could deepen perceptions of exclusion rather than resolve them—setting a precedent that may reverberate across future U.S. mineral projects.