The back-to-back news items signal a public and private sector commitment to domestic semiconductor production and underscore Intel's importance.

The US government is in discussions to potentially take a partial ownership stake in Intel, according to an Aug. 18 report by Bloomberg. The deal could help accelerate the construction of Intel’s long-delayed semiconductor manufacturing plant in Ohio.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is looking into the federal government taking equity stakes in computer chip manufacturers that receive CHIPS Act funding to build factories in the country, two sources said.

Lutnick just laughed it off, indignantly pointing out that “we were just giving away the money” under the previous terms of the CHIPS Act. But the legality of any equity stake would likely be challenged by both Intel shareholders and competitors in the industry, according to the Times.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Trump administration plans to convert federal funding pledged to Intel Corp. INTC under the CHIPS Act into an equity stake, arguing that taxpayers deserve a return instead of providing “giveaways to rich companies.

Micron, TSMC, and more have also been awarded billions in subisidies The US government is considering taking a stake in Intel and other semiconductor companies that benefit from CHIPS Act funding, according to officials from the Trump administration.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the White House wouldn't try to flex its power with a stake in Intel.

The U.S. wants to get 10% of Intel in exchange for the billions of dollars it’s giving it under the CHIPS Act.