US House Speaker Mike Johnson says the GOP “probably will” try to repeal the CHIPS Act, but then walks it back, saying the GOP may “further streamline” the bill

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that Republicans “probably will” try to repeal legislation …

Associated Press 2024-11-03 Stephen Groves

Context & Ripple Effects

The remarks create tension with related coverage suggesting the program was more likely to be preserved with changed priorities than eliminated outright, as in expectations of a modified, rather than abandoned, CHIPS program. The later clarification therefore matters less as a settled legislative position than as an early signal that Republican policy language could move between repeal and revision.

That ambiguity remained relevant when a later call to scrap the law prompted concern among Republican lawmakers and requests for White House reassurance.

First-order effects

Johnson’s walk-back changes the immediate GOP message from an unqualified repeal prospect to a possible effort to streamline the CHIPS Act.
Republicans and parties tracking the law are left without a clear commitment on whether the target is elimination or narrower revision.

Second-order effects

The clarification narrows the near-term political debate toward what “streamlining” would mean, rather than treating repeal as the sole Republican option.
Conflicting signals can make it harder for lawmakers to present a unified position, particularly if the program retains support within the party.

Third-order effects

If this pattern persists, the CHIPS Act could become an enduring site of partisan renegotiation rather than a policy with a stable cross-administration mandate.
The episode points to a broader risk for industrial-policy programs: their continuity may depend as much on shifting political framing as on the original legislation.

The trend: US industrial policy is increasingly being contested through revisions to existing programs rather than a simple choice between preservation and repeal.

Discussion

@levie Aaron Levie on x
Just leaving this right here [image]
@armanddoma Armand Domalewski on x
the reason that Trump opposes the CHIPs Act and wants to use tariffs to crush US semiconductor manufacturing is because he is happy to sell America out to China
@brandonlbradfor Brandon Bradford on x
If you are in Tech or Construction(and all the ancillary industries that support them) this is astonishingly bad news for you. The CHIPS and Science act is objectively good policy, paired with the IRA it ensures good jobs in the US for a decade
@andykimnj Andy Kim on x
Speaker Johnson didn't “mishear” anything. He said exactly what he believes in wanting to repeal the Chips and Science Act. That's why he's blocking Congress from appropriating billions of dollars to fund the Science research part of the law. Johnson is doing severe damage to our
@petereharrell Peter Harrell on x
Trump's emerging opposition to the CHIPS Act is only one of his proposals to stop rebuilding US chip manufacturing. The other is his 20% tariffs on the Dutch, Japanese, etc. tools that new US fabs will need to actually make the chips. (20% on a $300 million EUV machine hurts).
@kamalahq @kamalahq on x
Trump says the CHIPS and Science Act, which brings thousands of manufacturing jobs back to America, “is so bad” and says he wants to replace it with tariffs that will raise prices on the middle class [video]
@costellojoseph_ Joseph Costello on x
🚨NEW >> Trump attacks CHIPS Act and threatens to defund thousands of American manufacturing jobs. On Joe Rogan yesterday, Trump claimed direct support for American workers is “not the way...You can't build it that way” [video]
@vicvijayakumar Vic on x
chat, is this the same CHIPS act that trump & speaker johnson want to repeal? https://www.axios.com/...
@rubengallego Ruben Gallego on x
Kari Lake and the GOP want to repeal the CHIPS Act, putting thousands of Arizona jobs on the line. They'd rather play politics than protect our economy and hardworking families.
@nicoleperlroth Nicole Perlroth on x
The CHIPS act is a critical national security measure. You are in tech? You do not vote for GOP this cycle.
@ylecun Yann LeCun on x
Trump says the CHIPS Act and Science Act are “so bad” and should be replaced by tariffs. Wondering whether @elonmusk and all thoe Silicon Valley MAGA supporters will appreciate tariffs on Taiwanese GPUs 😅
@lukeradel Luke Radel on x
BREAKING: I asked @SpeakerJohnson if he'll try to repeal the CHIPS Act if Trump wins and they have control of Congress. “I expect that we probably will.” @RepWilliams responds: “I will remind him night and day how important the CHIPS Act is.” #NY22 @CitrusTVNews 🚨 [video]
@tristansnell Tristan Snell on x
BREAKING: Mike Johnson CONFESSES Trump will KILL the CHIPS Act and destroy thousands of American manufacturing jobs. CHIPS investments in key states: Georgia: $75,000,000 Michigan: $325,000,000 Arizona: $19,500,000,000 Pennsylvania: $93,000,000 North Carolina: $750,000,000
@acyn @acyn on x
AOC on Speaker Johnson saying he would probably repeal The CHIPS Act: I would like to thank Speaker Johnson for is his honesty about what they plan to do with the Republican majority in the House. I want everyone to know, you heard it straight from him. [video]
@del_corcoran Delaney Corcoran on x
When you realize you just accidentally revealed Trump's plan to kill tens of thousands of Arizona jobs and repeal the BIPARTISAN CHIPS act... [image]
@briantylercohen Brian Tyler Cohen on x
The CHIPS Act is in part responsible for the addition of 800,000 new manufacturing jobs in the US, including clean energy jobs that would otherwise be ceded to China. Republicans will repeal it because it was passed by a Democratic president. These people are arsonists driven by
@daveweigel David Weigel on x
Transcript is wrong - he's only going to repeal the CHIP'S Act.
@elissaslotkin Elissa Slotkin on x
I fought like hell to pass the CHIPS Act, and it's already creating good paying jobs and bringing manufacturing back to Michigan. Repealing it will only hurt workers and roll back the progress we've made to bring supply chains back home. It's not just bad for Michigan, it's
@adamkinzinger Adam Kinzinger on x
The CHIPS act was largely written by Republicans, then all but myself and 23 others opposed it because they didn't want Biden to get a win. Petty politics at the cost of Americas security
@gretchenwhitmer Gretchen Whitmer on x
Mike Johnson's asinine admission that he would repeal the CHIPS Act if Republicans and Trump win the election is a complete disaster for thousands of Michigan workers relying on the jobs that this legislation provides. Make no mistake, a repeal of the CHIPS Act would kill
@mattcorridoni Matt Corridoni on x
A Look At CHIPS Investments In Battleground States: Arizona: $19.5 Billion Georgia: $75 Million Michigan: $325 Million North Carolina: $750 Million Pennsylvania: $93 Million
@petebuttigieg Pete Buttigieg on x
This would be a great way to end today's historic factory construction boom and cause a second Trump manufacturing recession.
@captmarkkelly Captain Mark Kelly on x
First Donald Trump and now Speaker Johnson. Make no mistake: If they win, they are coming for the CHIPS Act — and tens of thousands of Arizona jobs. [video]
r/Ohio r on reddit
House Speaker Johnson says GOP may try to repeal CHIPS Act, then walks it back

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