Trump Administration Eyes Robotics Push Amid Manufacturing Concerns

Trump Administration Eyes Robotics Push Amid Manufacturing Concerns

Months after launching an initiative to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the Trump administration appears to be pivoting its focus to robotics technology. According to three sources familiar with the matter who requested anonymity, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has been meeting with robotics industry CEOs, expressing his “full-on” commitment to accelerating the sector’s growth. Two of the sources stated that the administration is considering issuing an executive order on robotics in the coming year. A Commerce Department spokesperson stated, “We are committed to robotics and advanced manufacturing because they are central to bringing critical production back to the United States.” Furthermore, the Department of Transportation is preparing to announce a robotics task force, expected to be unveiled before the end of the year, according to a person familiar with the plans. The Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Interest is also growing on Capitol Hill. A Republican amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act proposed creating a national robotics commission, although the amendment was not included in the final bill. Other legislative efforts remain ongoing. These developments indicate that robotics may be the next major frontier. However, promoting the proliferation of robotics could conflict with one of the Trump administration's key goals: revitalizing the American manufacturing workforce. General-purpose humanoid robots may sound like science fiction, but advances in AI are enabling these robots to take on increasingly complex tasks by processing more data faster. However, catching up requires significant investment. CB Insights projects funding to reach $2.3 billion in 2025, double last year’s total. Goldman Sachs estimates that the global humanoid robotics market could reach $38 billion by 2035. The industry has been lobbying government officials and lawmakers to get involved. They argue that robots are the physical embodiment of AI. Any effort to enhance AI competitiveness must include a plan to advance robotics technology. Companies hope for tax incentives or federal funding to help integrate advanced automation, more robust supply chains, and widespread deployment. “It’s important that we’re actively engaged, thinking about a national robotics strategy, and supporting this burgeoning industry in the U.S. so that we can remain competitive,” said Jeff Cardenas, CEO of Apptronik. Apptronik is a Google-backed, $5 billion-valued startup developing a general-purpose robot called Apollo, one of the first humanoid robots to operate in automotive factories. “There is now recognition that advanced robotics is really critical for America in manufacturing, technology, national security, defense applications, and public safety,” said Brendan Schulman, Vice President of Policy and Government Relations at Boston Dynamics. “The investment we’re seeing in this space and China’s effort to dominate the future of robotics is raising concern.” An unresolved question is how a national push for robotics development aligns with the government’s goal of reviving American manufacturing. Skeptics warn that if companies automate too aggressively, the U.S. may end up bringing factories back, but with only machines, not people. A paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that workers in routine or replaceable roles face fewer job opportunities and lower income as companies automate. Another scenario envisions robotics and manufacturing reinforcing each other, with workers manufacturing, deploying, and maintaining the robots that drive industrial growth. This is the vision being pushed by some in the industry. Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, said that robots make workers more productive, which could expand job opportunities. “When companies invest in robotics, they are also investing in more people because their companies do better,” he said. “This is not a man versus machine fight, but rather human-machine collaboration is what’s going to drive us forward, and that’s our view — robots that augment our capabilities and human capacity, as opposed to replacing us. I think it’s important we lead the way in doing that.”