Trump administration will back CHIPS and Science Act hints outgoing Commerce Secretary

Intel silicon spin qubit progress
(Image credit: Intel)

Donald Trump and his backers were hardly fans of the Biden administration's CHIPS and Science Act during the election campaign, yet the next U.S. government does not plan to reverse it. At least, that's the impression the next U.S. Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, gave to outgoing Secretary Gina Raimondo, Bloomberg reports.

Before the election, Trump criticized the CHIPS Act, labeling it highly flawed and proposing tariffs as an alternative. But Lutnick, his chosen appointee for the position who will inherit program management from Raimondo, has indicated that he plans to continue with its implementation.

Anton Shilov
Contributing Writer

Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.

  • OldAnalogWorld
    Earlier, the forum moderator deleted part of my reasoning in another news about TSMC under the pretext - no politics on the forum according to the forum rules. The question is - why then publish news about politics here? If it is impossible to express an opinion on the essence of the issue, which is what I did earlier?
    Reply
  • COLGeek
    OldAnalogWorld said:
    Earlier, the forum moderator deleted part of my reasoning in another news about TSMC under the pretext - no politics on the forum according to the forum rules. The question is - why then publish news about politics here? If it is impossible to express an opinion on the essence of the issue, which is what I did earlier?
    No, it isn't impossible to comment. Focus on the tech aspects of the topic and not the politics. One can do one without the other.
    Reply
  • OldAnalogWorld
    It is impossible to focus on technical issues - because this news is pure politics and a violation of the principles of a market economy. Which I have covered in great detail in another thread in comparison with China. Otherwise, what is the point of this news? That some supposedly market company is being given subsidies? And why? In a market economy? The inexorable hand of the market will fix everything itself, won't it? Subsidies are the path to a non-market economy, socialism, and then a totalitarian state machine. There are no other options.

    Technically, Intel is bankrupt - a key recipient of IT subsidies in the US. And it should disappear from the market, like a zombie company. That's its fate in a market economy. No big deal - there will be those who will pick up the flag if the economy is still a market economy. Otherwise, it turns out that the small economy of Taiwan is stronger than the US economy in all the aspects I outlined earlier?
    Reply
  • COLGeek
    OldAnalogWorld said:
    It is impossible to focus on technical issues - because this news is pure politics and a violation of the principles of a market economy. Which I have covered in great detail in another thread in comparison with China. Otherwise, what is the point of this news? That some supposedly market company is being given subsidies? And why? In a market economy? The inexorable hand of the market will fix everything itself, won't it? Subsidies are the path to a non-market economy, socialism, and then a totalitarian state machine. There are no other options.
    Nonsense. Members choose the aspect to focus on.

    In this case, continuity of programs ensures a path to more flexible supply chains and increased competition, so that we don't have to (should it ever happen again) deal with the COVID induced supply chain issues from a couple years ago. There should also be improved competition, improving prices for consumers and increased innovation.

    All can be addressed without going down the political rabbit hole.

    Political commentary is the equivalent of troll food. Feeding trolls never ends well and often leads to unfortunate outcomes.

    Hope this clarifies our policies.
    Reply
  • rluker5
    Wouldn't paying out the awarded funds be considered continuing the CHIPS act?
    Reply