The Trump administration is making a renewed push to expand the US manufacturing base, launching a program aimed at training the next generation of entrepreneurs, engineers, technicians, and industrial leaders.
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio helped launch the program, dubbed the Foundry School, on Thursday at an event with academics and other stakeholders.
āWe believe in making things again,ā Vance said. The Foundry School is part of the State Departmentās Pax Silica program, focused on AI and supply chain security, and includes a partnership with Stanford University to offer advanced-manufacturing curricula across eight college campuses.
Bolstering the domestic manufacturing sector has been a priority across administrations (Joe Biden signed the bipartisan chips law in 2022).
The Trump administration has taken some steps that could undermine its efforts, like proposing steep cuts to research and development funding.