This week, the administration of US President Joe Biden presented its budget proposals to Congress, calling for new funding for the semiconductor industry. Among other measures to overcome the crisis associated with a shortage of semiconductor products, the White House is proposing to allocate $ 150 billion to fund two new programs, one of which is aimed at creating a production of microcircuits in the country.

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This is yet another attempt by the US government to address the chip shortage that has led to the shutdown of consumer products such as the Sony PlayStation 5 game consoles, as well as the shutdown of production on Ford’s assembly lines.

The American Employment Plan, a massive $ 2 trillion package of measures unveiled in March, also included a funding clause for a program aimed at domestic semiconductor manufacturing. According to this document, it was proposed to allocate $ 50 billion for this program. In February of this year, President Biden signed a decree in accordance with which the government should analyze the supply chain in the semiconductor industry.

The global chip shortage is the result of several factors caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Since many people have had to work and study remotely, the demand for laptops, tablet computers and other home appliances has grown significantly. The trade war between the United States and China has also had a negative impact on chip manufacturing.

Already on Monday, the White House and cabinet officials intend to hold a virtual meeting with the leadership of large companies to discuss the sustainability of existing semiconductor supply chains. It is expected that within the framework of the conversation, Biden’s plan to eliminate the shortage of chips will be considered in more detail, as well as options for strengthening supply chains in this area will be explored. According to reports, executives from various companies such as Alphabet, AT&T, Ford, General Motors, Intel and Samsung will attend the meeting with government officials.