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**Trump Administration Blocks U.S. Steel Plant Closure in Illinois, Marking First Use of “Golden Share” Powers**
In a significant development for American manufacturing and labor, the Trump administration has exercised new powers to prevent U.S. Steel from idling its Granite City, Illinois, plant. This intervention, reported by the Wall Street Journal, follows the company’s recent acquisition by Japan’s Nippon Steel and signals a growing willingness by the federal government to directly influence the operations of major private-sector businesses for strategic and national security reasons.
**Background: U.S. Steel’s Granite City Plant at Risk**
Located in Granite City, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri, the U.S. Steel plant has long been a cornerstone of local employment and the national steel industry. In late June, nearly 800 workers at the facility received notification from U.S. Steel that the plant would be idled as of November. While the company assured employees they would continue to receive pay, the announcement sparked concerns about the long-term future of the plant and the stability of jobs in a region heavily dependent on steel production.
The decision to idle the plant came on the heels of U.S. Steel’s $14.1 billion acquisition by Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steelmaker. The deal, which had been under scrutiny by U.S. regulators, was ultimately approved in June after months of negotiations and the establishment of special conditions aimed at protecting American interests.
**Government Intervention: A New Era of Oversight**
What sets the Granite City episode apart from previous plant closures is the mechanism by which the Trump administration intervened. As a condition for approving Nippon Steel’s takeover of U.S. Steel, the White House secured what are known as “golden share” rights. This arrangement, embedded in a national-security agreement, gives the federal government veto power over critical management decisions at U.S. Steel. These include the authority to block plant closures, prevent the offshoring of production, and influence other strategic moves that could affect the United States’ industrial base or national security.
Upon learning of U.S. Steel’s intent to suspend operations at Granite City, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick personally intervened. According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Lutnick communicated directly with U.S. Steel CEO Dave Burritt, making clear that the administration would not permit the idling of the plant. In response to this warning, U.S. Steel reversed its decision. On Friday, the company announced that the facility would continue to operate, specifically maintaining the production of steel slabs, which are then rolled into sheet steel—a critical input for various manufacturing sectors.
A spokesperson for U.S. Steel confirmed the arrangement to CNBC, stating, “U.S. Steel will continue to supply slabs to Granite City. Our goal was to maintain flexibility, and we are pleased to have found a solution to continue to slab consumption at Granite City.”
**Significance for U.S. Workers and Industry**
The Trump administration’s intervention has been welcomed by the plant’s workers and the local community, who had faced weeks of uncertainty regarding their employment. Beyond immediate job security, the decision is seen as part of a broader effort to revitalize American manufacturing and ensure that strategic industries remain anchored in the United States.
President Trump has made manufacturing policy a central pillar of his economic agenda, emphasizing the importance of domestic production for national security and economic resilience. The administration’s willingness to use newly granted “golden share” powers reflects a belief that critical industries—such as steel, semiconductors, and energy—should not be left solely to market forces, especially in a globalized economy where foreign ownership and competition are increasingly common.
For U.S. Steel workers, the immediate outcome is clear: jobs that seemed at risk are, for now, secure. The company’s commitment to continue rolling slabs at Granite City means that employees will remain on the payroll and the plant will continue to contribute to the local economy.
**The Broader Context: U.S. Industrial Policy and Foreign Investment**
The Granite City episode is not an isolated case, but rather part of a broader trend in which the federal government is taking a more active role in shaping the future of key industries. Last month, President Trump announced that the U.S. government would acquire a 10% equity stake in Intel, following