releases: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-demands-answers-from-trump-admin-on-unauthorized-dismantling-of-manufacturing-program
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-demands-answers-from-trump-admin-on-unauthorized-dismantling-of-manufacturing-program | Senator Baldwin Demands Answers from Trump Admin on Unauthorized Dismantling of Manufacturing Program | 2025-12-22 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | WI | Tammy Baldwin | B001230 | www.baldwin.senate.gov | baldwin | https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a group of her colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump Administration on its decision to withhold and delay congressionally-approved funds to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program’s Centers and why the Administration has repeatedly insisted MEP is inconsistent with their priorities. The MEP program is a public-private partnership that helps small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make operational improvements, and create jobs. Prior to the Trump Administration’s moves to dismantle the program, the MEP in Wisconsin helped create more than $2.5 billion in economic impact and created or retained nearly 4,000 jobs in just two years. “On April 1, 2025, the Administration began withholding and delaying funds Congress already enacted and appropriated for MEP Centers,” wrote Baldwin and the Senators in a letter to Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Craig Burkhardt. “Since then, NIST and the Administration have put the future of the MEP Program in deep uncertainty with its ever-shifting chronology of statements and actions. This uncertainty has already caused roughly 90% of MEP Centers to conduct layoffs or freeze hiring, with some at risk of entirely shutting down. Our offices are also deeply troubled by reports that the Administration has issued Reduction in Force (RIF) and possible separation notices to every MEP employee. These actions disregard Congress’s explicit statutory direction to fully fund the MEP Program and its Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.” These actions come despite longstanding broad, bipartisan support from Congress, and the fact that both the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bills provide $175 million for MEP. The Administration has also claimed that the goal of the MEP – to support American manufacturers – was not aligned with the Administration’s priorities. President Trump has promised an “American manufacturing boom,” but the latest jobs report indicates 67,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since April 2025. “It is perplexing why the Administration appears to believe a program specifically designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing would be at odds with its priorities,” concluded the Senators. “We should not be undermining or eliminating a long-standing program that strengthens innovation, enhances global competitiveness, and creates jobs in U.S. manufacturing.” Since 1988, the MEP has worked to strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturing through a nationwide network of MEP Centers. The MEP National Network is comprised of 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and over 1,450 trusted advisors and experts at more than 430 MEP service locations that provide any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed. Senator Baldwin has long championed investing in the manufacturing sector. In addition to helping pass the CHIPS and Science Act, Senator Baldwin worked to secure significant investments to support the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Baldwin is Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee charged with oversight of MEP at the Department of Commerce. In addition to Senator Baldwin, the letter was led by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and co-signed by 26 of their colleagues. Full text of the letter is available here and below. Dear Acting Under Secretary Burkhardt, We write to seek clarity and information on what appears to be the unauthorized dismantling of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. If the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) continues its current trajectory of refusing to provide MEP Centers their congressionally mandated funding, 65,000 American manufacturers will lose critical services and resources after December 31, 2025. This is an unacceptable and completely avoidable outcome, and we call on you to rectify this immediately. On April 1, 2025, the Administration began withholding and delaying funds Congress already enacted and appropriated for MEP Centers. Since then, NIST and the Administration have put the future of the MEP Program in deep uncertainty with its ever-shifting chronology of statements and actions. This uncertainty has already caused roughly 90% of MEP Centers to conduct layoffs or freeze hiring, with some at risk of entirely shutting down. Our offices are also deeply troubled by reports that the Administration has issued Reduction in Force (RIF) and possible separation notices to every MEP employee. These actions disregard Congress’s explicit statutory direction to fully fund the MEP Program and its Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The MEP Program under the Department of Commerce (DOC) and NIST has long enjoyed broad bipartisan, bicameral support for its success as a national network of go-to experts that help small and medium-sized manufacturers enhance productivity and adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Congress first authorized MEP in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act and of 1988 and reauthorized the program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Recent legislation demonstrates Congress’s ongoing support for MEP Centers, as both the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bills provide $175 million for MEP. The House report specifically supports “continuation of current State awards that bolster the local manufacturing economy.” Additionally, the Senate report clearly directs that “no funds are provided to execute or plan for a program that reduces the number of active MEP Centers” and that “any revamp, including the one outlined in the June 2025 renewal documents, should not proceed without consultation and approval from the Committee.” Additionally, please provide a briefing to our staff on the status of the MEP Program and the Department’s plans for program continuity no later than January 5, 2026. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response. Sincerely, ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |