President Trump’s administration is considering a sweeping program to boost U.S. manufacturing, according to documents and people familiar with the talks says a Wall Street Journal report (gated).
The plan would tap a $550 billion fund created during trade negotiations with Japan to invest in sectors such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, energy, shipbuilding, and quantum computing.
Some projects could receive preferential treatment, including fast-tracked regulatory reviews and access to federal land or water through special leases. The initiative would expand Trump’s direct involvement in industry, following earlier moves such as securing a government stake in Intel, obtaining a “golden share” in U.S. Steel, and winning a cut of certain chip sales to China.
The proposals are still under discussion, and officials caution details could change before any rollout.
