Job cuts at NIST imperil the CHIPS Act which would affect US semiconductor reshoring plans!

Computerworld.com reported that “Proposed cuts at a key US government agency will likely mean the demise of CHIPS Act funding, which could effectively end the program and undermine efforts to reshore semiconductor manufacturing and research to the US.”  The February 25, 2025 article entitled “Reported cuts at NIST imperil semiconductor reshoring plans in the US” (https://www.computerworld.com/article/3832885/reported-cuts-at-nist-imperil-semiconductor-reshoring-plans-in-the-us.html) included these comments including comments from Jack Gold (principal analyst with tech industry research firm J. Gold Associates):

Axios and Bloomberg on Tuesday reported that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plans to cut 497 jobs this week. NIST, a non-regulatory agency within the US Department of Commerce (DoC), helps drive innovation and industrial competitiveness and oversees the CHIPS for America program.

The issue goes beyond CHIPS funding, Gold added, saying program cuts will hurt local communities expecting new facilities that would create jobs, pay taxes, and boost the economy. Areas such as Ohio, where projects were planned, “will miss out,” he said. And, local politicians in states expecing the grant monies, including New York, Ohio, Texas, and Arizona, are likely unhappy, he said.

What do you think about these cuts at NIST?