House China panel’s top Democrat raises concerns over NIST layoffs impacting work on U.S. economic competitiveness

Mass layoffs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology targeting the implementation of CHIPS and Science Act “directly jeopardize” the U.S. ability to compete with China, according to the Rep. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), who serves as ranking member of the House China select committee.

Krishnamoorthi cited a Bloomberg report that the Commerce Department intends to fire up to 500 probationary employees at NIST a Feb. 25 letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The letter says the...