WASHINGTON — Sen. Jon Husted is urging the Trump administration’s Commerce Department to lift a suspension of federal funding tied to the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership, arguing the move threatens a key public–private program that helps small and mid-sized manufacturers modernize operations across the state.
In a letter sent with members of the Ohio congressional delegation to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Husted and seven House Republicans asked the department to “pause or lift the suspension immediately” while an audit is completed, warning the decision carries serious consequences for Ohio manufacturers, workers and the state’s industrial competitiveness.
“Given the severity of the consequences to Ohio manufacturers, workers, and the state’s industrial competitiveness, we respectfully but urgently request that the Department of Commerce pause or lift the suspension immediately, pending completion and publication of the final audit,” the lawmakers wrote.
The press release said the Ohio MEP award was suspended Dec. 5, and that the state was notified of the suspension earlier in December.
In addition to Husted, the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Max Miller, Michael Turner, Robert Latta, David Joyce, Mike Carey, Michael Rulli and David Taylor, all Republicans from Ohio.
Husted also sent a separate letter to Lutnick on Dec. 11 requesting “immediate and specific clarification” on why the federal funding for the Ohio MEP program is being suspended, according to the release.
The lawmakers pointed to economic claims tied to the program, saying “every dollar invested in Ohio’s MEP network produces an estimated $18–$20 in economic output, making it one of the highest-return economic-development investments available to state and federal policymakers.”
They argued that the program’s technical assistance — “ranging from automation and robotics integration to cybersecurity upgrades, supply-chain strengthening, workforce development and AI-enabled plant modernization” — is essential for manufacturers in both rural and urban parts of the state. “For many Ohio companies, the MEP is their engineering, process-improvement and innovation capability,” the lawmakers wrote.
The delegation also said the Ohio MEP system supports supply chains tied to defense, aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, medical devices, food production and advanced materials, warning that halting services could jeopardize ongoing projects in automation, cybersecurity, digital modernization, workforce development and productivity improvement — efforts they described as important to national security supply chains and reshoring.
“Given the profound economic implications, the lack of due process and the bipartisan, longstanding Congressional mandate for a strong MEP program, we urge the Department of Commerce to restore operational continuity while the audit process proceeds to completion,” the lawmakers concluded.
The release described Ohio’s MEP system as a nationally recognized partnership that delivers modernization services to more than 2,000 manufacturers annually, claiming the work generates “more than $750 million in new and retained sales annually,” “more than $110 million in yearly cost savings,” “roughly $500 million in new capital investment,” and “more than 6,000 manufacturing jobs created or retained each year.”