Trump Administration Blocks U.S. Steel Illinois Plant Closure Saving 800 Jobs

The Trump administration has blocked U.S. Steel's plan to shut down its Granite City plant in Illinois, a key facility producing sheet steel with nearly 800 employees. This intervention involved Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick informing U.S. Steel CEO Dave Burritt that President Trump would invoke the "golden share" authority, a special power granted to the U.S. government as part of Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel, to prevent the closure. The decision underscores the administration’s commitment to preserving American manufacturing jobs, maintaining domestic steel production capacity, and protecting national security interests tied to steelmaking infrastructure. The plant's continued operation helps stabilize the local economy and supports the broader goal of sustaining U.S. industrial strength amid foreign ownership and shifting corporate strategies. Nippon Steel, which acquired U.S. Steel in June 2025, agreed to the golden share arrangement and additional investments to secure U.S. government approval. While U.S. Steel had initially planned to cease steel production at Granite City by November 2025, the administration’s direct intervention has reversed that plan, ensuring slab consumption continues at the plant.