Robert Maire, president of consulting firm Semiconductor Advisors, wrote in a blog post that the plan to cut NIST staff isn’t “bluff or negotiation tactic.” Instead, the layoffs signal a complete shift in direction under Trump, he said.
“Trump made it clear over the last few days that he will institute 25% tariffs on imported semiconductor devices, so [it’s] obvious that strategy is shifting from incentivizing US chip production to penalizing imports instead,” Maire said. “This also lowers the likelihood of TSMC taking over Intel manufacturing, as giving top US chip production to Taiwan contradicts the new strategy.”
The goal of the CHIPS Act is to reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor supply chains, improve national security, and support innovation in critical technologies such as electronics, defense, and healthcare. It also aims to create jobs and strengthen the U.S. economy.
