Updates About Governor

As Medicare and Medicaid reach their 60th anniversary, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist are celebrating the sweeping impact the programs have had on Michiganders while also raising alarm over recent federal threats to their future. These landmark health care programs now cover more than one in four state residents, providing essential care for children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Whitmer credited Medicaid and Medicare with reducing poverty, supporting rural hospitals, and keeping costs down for working families.

At the same time, Whitmer and Gilchrist sharply criticized recently passed federal legislation that cuts nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding, which would eliminate health care for many here in Michigan. With nearly 2.6 million Michiganders relying on these programs, including 1 million children and three in five nursing home residents, Whitmer and Gilchrist have pledged to keep fighting for access to affordable care, even as Congress moves in the opposite direction.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive directive requiring state offices to assess the impact of federal tariffs on Michigan’s economy. Executive Directive 2025-5 instructs that by August 30, the following departments are to review data that may shed light on the impact of new tariffs in Michigan: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; Department of Natural Resources; Department of Technology, Management, and Budget; Department of Transportation; and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Here in Michigan, the impact of tariffs is poised to be much higher than in many other states due to our manufacturing and agriculture-heavy economy. Already, the state has experienced rising costs and disrupted supply chains. Whitmer has expressed concerns about the negative effects these tariffs will have on Michigan families and businesses. The directive was issued one day before President Trump’s August 1 tariff deadline.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced recently that Sandisk, the semiconductor company previously eyeing Michigan’s Mundy Township megasite, has pulled out of the project due to national economic uncertainty. The company, which had applied for CHIPS Act funding, decided not to move forward with building any U.S. plants, citing concerns over tariffs and stalled federal support. Whitmer emphasized Michigan’s continued commitment to attracting advanced manufacturing investment, despite growing headwinds at the federal level. The Mundy site remains available for future development.

Read previous coverage on Michigan’s semiconductor industry here: GOVERNOR WHITMER OUTLINES BOLD VISION FOR MICHIGAN’S SEMICONDUCTOR FUTURE