Two top Micron Technology officials said they're confident Trump won't undermine the company's plans to build a chipmaking complex

Syracuse, N.Y -- Two top Micron Technology officials said in a public forum at Syracuse University this week they’re confident the Trump administration won't undermine the company's plans

Two top Micron Technology officials said in a public forum at Syracuse University this week they’re confident the Trump administration won’t undermine the company’s plans to build a chipmaking complex in the town of Clay.

President Donald Trump has criticized the billion-dollar federal subsidies that Micron and other chipmakers are counting on to build factories across the U.S., raising concerns he might try to renegotiate those contracts.

But Micron’s execs said they have continued support from Republicans and Democrats to push ahead and expand computer chipmaking in places like Central New York.

“The CHIPS and Science act was a bipartisan piece of legislation,” April Arnzen, executive vice president and chief people officer for Micron, said Tuesday at a forum at Syracuse University. “There is strong support for growing semiconductors and the semiconductor ecosystem in the U.S. I do not see that changing at all.”

Arnzen acknowledged, however, that some changes could be coming for Micron and other semiconductor companies benefitting from the CHIPS Act.

“Of course we have to figure out exactly if there are going to be any adjustments, what does that mean to us,” she said. “Like every other company, we’ll go through that same process.”

The law, passed in 2022, provided $39 billion in grants for chipmakers to build factories in the U.S. Micron expects to get about $4.6 billion in federal grants to build two fabrication plants, or fabs, at the corner of Route 31 and Caughdenoy Road.

Arnzen was also asked about Micron’s commitment to diversity in light of Trump’s opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion policies. One of Trump’s first executive orders banished all diversity efforts from the federal government, calling them “illegal” and “immoral,” and encouraged federal agencies to push private companies to end DEI.

“As a federal contractor and a federal grant recipient, we will have to examine anything that is put out by the federal government and make sure that we’re in compliance,” Arnzen said. “But the end objectives that we strive to achieve -- creating access, creating opportunity, and giving everyone a chance to be successful inside of our company -- isn’t going to change.”

Micron’s agreement with New York state to get up to $5 billion in subsidies could put it on a collision course with Trump’s DEI orders. The agreement with New York requires Micron to hire from “historically disadvantaged populations” and hire contracting companies owned by women, minorities and LGBT+ people.

On its own, Micron has been committed to diversity programs and hiring for years. The company has issued annual diversity reports since 2018 and has taken aggressive steps to diversify its global workforce of about 44,000 people.

Micron could get another $11.3 billion in federal tax credits and $4 billion in state and local tax breaks for the first two fabs, which Micron estimates will cost about $48 billion to construct and equip.

Scott Gatzemeier, Micron’s corporate vice president for U.S. expansion, said construction is slated to start late this year.

It’s widely assumed in Washington and the semiconductor industry that Trump is looking to redo the CHIPS contracts. That could include rollbacks of requirements to provide child care, use union labor and meet certain green energy goals. House Speaker Mike Johnson said something similar in Syracuse last month.

If the federal government does strip away conditions from the CHIPS contracts, it might have little effect on Micron’s Clay project. Micron’s separate deal with the state includes some of those provisions Trump might jettison, leaving Micron on the hook for them anyway.

Micron has already signed an agreement to use union labor to build the fabs, has bought land for a child care center in Clay and has committed to using 100% renewable electricity at the complex.

Gatzemeier said Tuesday he is encouraged by comments made by new U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Trump’s cabinet member in charge of the grants to Micron and others.

“During his confirmation hearing, (Lutnick) talked about the need to build semiconductors in the United States, and that is exactly what our projects in Clay, in Boise, Idaho, in Manassas, Virginia, are doing,” Gatzemeier said. “We view our projects as absolutely in line with the American requirements and needs.

Micron has also signed agreements worth billions to build a new fabrication plant at its Idaho headquarters and expand its plant in Virginia.

Arnzen and Gatzemeier spoke at SU’s Micron Day on Tuesday. The event featured SU alumni who now work for Micron and variety of talks on the company and its plans for Clay.