Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1541985
30 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2025 A M E R I CA N M A D E A DVO CACY The Shared Responsibility of Rebuilding Our Industrial Base by S h a n e Wh ites i d e, PC BA A After decades of offshoring, Americans are return- ing to the factory floor, and our elected officials and business leaders are now investing in Amer- ican manufacturing because it aids our economy and strengthens our national security. Whether it's a data center powering the next generation of arti- ficial intelligence (AI) or an automated factory build- ing a state-of-the-art drone, America's manufactur- ing renaissance depends on microelectronics. Our ambitious national goal to win the AI race has created a demand for millions of computer serv- ers containing billions of printed circuit boards and chips. AI data centers handle data ranging from innocuous computer queries to the most sensi- tive national defense and economic content. Our most serious global competitor in this race to invent and own the future is, of course, China. It is deeply concerning that we depend on China for both data center server components and dual-use items in our national defense systems. The Pentagon is rightly emphasizing the need to adopt commercial models for acquiring new weapon systems. Unfortunately, dual-use and commercial off-the-shelf components often include Chinese content. Because supply chains become murky after two or three levels of investigation, American