A Micron plant in New York sits years behind schedule despite congressional chip subsidies, illustrating America's industrial policy struggles. The delay stems from familiar permitting bottlenecks that plague major manufacturing projects.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently warned that iPhones are about to become more expensive due to an acute memory chip shortage. Congress allocated billions to boost domestic semiconductor production, yet bats and bureaucratic hurdles have stalled progress at the New York facility.

Artificial intelligence expansion is intensifying demand for computer chips across the tech sector. Memory chips power everything from smartphones to cars, and AI hyper-scalers are projected to drive prices up four-fold this year alone.

The mismatch between policy ambition and execution reality underscores deeper dysfunction in US industrial strategy. While lawmakers pour money into semiconductor manufacturing, regulatory obstacles prevent facilities from operating at full capacity when they're needed most.