THG News · Policy
White House Unveils $12B National Robotics Strategy
The White House on June 17 signed Executive Order 14290 — the "American Robotics Leadership Act" — establishing the first-ever US national strategy for robotics and embodied AI. The order earmarks $12 billion over five years and creates a new Office of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (ORAS) within OSTP.
What the Order Does
- $5B manufacturing grants for domestic humanoid, mobile robot, and component production
- $3B R&D fund routed through DARPA, NSF, and DOE national labs
- $2B procurement set-asides for federal agencies (DoD, DHS, USPS, VA) to buy US-made robots
- $2B workforce program for robotics technician and integrator training at community colleges
- Export-control review of advanced humanoid IP and certain rare-earth actuators
Industry Response
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) called the order "the single most important policy signal US robotics has ever received." Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, and Tesla all issued statements of support.
Critics raised concerns about export controls potentially fragmenting global supply chains, particularly given China's dominant position in actuator and reduction-gear manufacturing.
Global Reaction
The EU Commission immediately announced a review of its own €1.4B AI Factories initiative, while China's MIIT issued a statement reaffirming its 2025-2027 humanoid robotics development plan. Japan's METI is expected to announce a counterpart package in July.