Oregon's political leaders have criticized the Trump Administration's decision to end the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas, along with Oregon's congressional delegation, sent a letter expressing opposition to the move. The program was terminated "due to a shift in departmental priorities" at the Department of Commerce, according to the Office of the Senator.
Ten Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers have been informed that their cooperative agreements will not be renewed. Other centers, including the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership, are preparing for similar announcements as their agreements near expiration. The Oregon delegation has emphasized the importance of the program, stating that this change could affect the sector's growth and competitiveness, as reported by the Office of the Senator.
Oregon's officials, including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter, and Janelle Bynum, expressed concern over the Trump Administration's decision to cut funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. In a joint letter, they stated that the decision could negatively affect small- and medium-sized businesses that rely on Manufacturing Extension Partnership for support, potentially leading to job losses and economic impacts. Senator Wyden’s office called for the decision to be reversed to help maintain the competitiveness of American manufacturers, as mentioned by the Office of the Senator.
