Department of Defense in defense-related critical minerals engineering, applied research, commercialization, and workforce development activities. (2) Limitation on delegation The Secretary of Defense may not delegate or transfer to an individual outside the Office of the Secretary of Defense the authority regarding the programming or budgeting of the program established by this section that is carried out by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. (b) Program objective The objective of the program established by subsection (a)(1) is to enhance defense-related critical minerals research and education at covered educational institutions. Such objective shall be accomplished through initiatives designed to— (1) enhance the critical minerals research and educational capabilities of such institutions in areas of importance to national defense, as determined by the Secretary