Image Credentials: Image Title: U.S. Government Explores Becoming Largest Shareholder in Intel, Eyes Other Tech GiantsSource: (Gemini) Date: August 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Gemini), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle with Agencies
Washington, August 22, 2025 — The U.S. government is considering acquiring direct stakes in major semiconductor companies, including Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Micron, and Samsung, in a move that would mark an unprecedented level of government involvement in the private tech sector.
The initiative is linked to the CHIPS and Science Act, approved in 2022 and administered by the Department of Commerce, which aims to boost domestic semiconductor production through subsidies, research funding, and incentives for new factories. Currently valued at $52.7 billion, the program is now being evaluated alongside potential government equity stakes in leading industry players.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has proposed acquiring a 10 percent stake in Intel in exchange for federal support, with preliminary negotiations focusing on expanding Intel’s U.S. manufacturing capacity. Officials describe the strategy as part of a broader national security and economic agenda, recognizing semiconductors as critical to both.
A reinvention of American capitalism?
The Trump adm is in talks w/Intel about the US govt potentially taking a stake in the struggling chipmaker – a move aimed at supporting its push to expand domestic manufacturing. Direct govt ownership in this once-iconic tech giant would mark… pic.twitter.com/TTzXb8M46M— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) August 14, 2025
“[The President] wants to put the United States’ needs first, both in terms of national security and economic priorities, and this is a creative idea that has never been done before,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing.
Lutnick has also suggested extending the approach to other CHIPS Act beneficiaries, including Micron, TSMC, and Samsung Electronics, though much of the program’s funding has yet to be allocated. If implemented, this would mark the first time the U.S. government has taken direct equity positions in major technology manufacturers as part of an industrial policy initiative.
Officials have publicly assured that the government would not interfere with Intel’s or other companies’ commercial decisions, but Lutnick has acknowledged that the move would be historically unprecedented.
The Trump administration is in discussions to take a stake of about 10% in Intel, according to a White House official and other people familiar, in a move that could see the US become the beleaguered chipmaker’s largest shareholder.@rngould reports on Bloomberg Television… pic.twitter.com/1BuzETIVDC
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) August 18, 2025
Bipartisan Support
The proposal has already attracted some political support. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders expressed approval of the plan, describing it as a fair approach for taxpayers. Speaking to Reuters, Sanders said, “If microchip companies profit from the generous subsidies they receive from the federal government, American taxpayers deserve a reasonable return on that investment.”
The discussions remain in the early stages, but the potential stakes reflect a growing U.S. emphasis on securing domestic semiconductor capabilities and leveraging public investment to ensure national technological leadership.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.