Intel reiterated this week that its long-planned Ohio semiconductor campus remains a core part of its manufacturing strategy after Republican Senator Bernie Moreno demanded clearer answers about delays and potential costs to local taxpayers. In a brief response to Moreno, the company stated that it is coordinating with Ohio officials, the state's congressional delegation, and local stakeholders as it revises the schedule, and emphasized that the site "remains an important part of our long-term plans to expand leading-edge manufacturing on U.S. soil." Intel acknowledged that the timeline has shifted—commercial production is now not expected until at least 2030—and said it will maintain the flexibility to adjust construction and ramping based on customer demand. Moreno's letter highlighted roughly $2 billion in public incentives and nearly $700 million in infrastructure commitments, and he pressed the company for specifics on economic impact and any steps to limit costs to Ohio taxpayers. However, the company's public reply did not answer those questions in detail.

Leadership changes, rounds of workforce reductions and the challenge of attracting outside foundry customers have slowed momentum for Intel, while new private investments and a recent federal equity stake have altered financial and strategic calculations. The government involvement has added a national-security angle to the debate and increased scrutiny from state officials and residents who had expected faster job and supply-chain benefits. Intel insists the Ohio campus remains strategic and says it will keep working with stakeholders to align build-out with market realities. For now, the ambitious proposal survives as a long-term bet. Meanwhile, TrendForce reports citing Commercial Times that says Intel started limited 18A node shipments to U.S. customers in Q3, with 18A wafers already in production and initial output of its own CPUs expected in Q4. At least some parts of the manufacturing roadmap remain according to schedule, meaning that the $28 billion Ohio plant project is safe for now.

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