The Backbone of America

Now that America is celebrating its 250th birthday, we don't just remember what we have been. We are rebuilding the backbone that made America special in the first place.

Last week, during Made in America Week, it was clear that the country’s biggest strength has never been located just in Washington. It has always been built in the factories, steel mills, machine shops, energy sites, and family-owned businesses. It’s there where we manufactured the goods that built the most prosperous economy and protected the most powerful military force in the world.

But for far too long, that backbone was forgotten.

Washington had followed decades of trade policies that moved production jobs into other countries, weakening the manufacturing industry and leaving the nation at the mercy of foreign adversaries for goods critical to its economy and defense.

With the America First policy of President Donald Trump, the U.S. is witnessing a resurgence of its manufacturing industry on the basis of the idea that if a product is critical to the economy and security of the country, the nation itself must have the capability to manufacture it.

The effects are starting to materialize. Billions of dollars are pouring into the country from companies looking to bring their production back onshore, creating nearly 1 million American jobs. Reshored manufacturing created more jobs in the first quarter of 2026 for the first time in three years, an uplifting development that marks the beginning of renewed confidence in the domestic sector. Tax relief for small businesses, the ability to expense all capital costs for new plants and equipment, and regulatory reform provide the manufacturers with the security to grow and hire.

But this is not only good economic news; it is also good national security policy.

The American Security Coalition has always held that sovereignty requires self-reliance. A country that cannot make its own vital goods or harvest its own necessary resources will find itself in a precarious position at some point in time.

The United States’ defense industrial base is reliant upon a secure supply chain rooted domestically. Our nation’s planes, ships, precision guidance systems, satellites, and other advanced systems should all be manufactured by American workers and manufacturers. Moving these systems to other nations not only hinders the United States’ ability to respond when necessary, but also makes us overly dependent on our geopolitical rivals.

The same is true for energy and critical minerals.

Inexpensive and dependable American energy powers industry, fuels military preparedness, and helps keep prices low for consumers and companies. Critical minerals, similarly, are key elements in advanced electronics and artificial intelligence, as well as aerospace technologies and next-generation defense.

None of this means turning our backs on the rest of the world.

America First has never meant America Alone.

The United States will continue trading with allies and engaging global markets. But, there is a meaningful difference between participating in international commerce and becoming dependent on foreign governments. Healthy trade should complement American production, not replace it.

That philosophy also benefits millions of working families.

Every new factory creates opportunities far beyond its own walls. Manufacturing supports suppliers, transportation companies, construction firms, skilled trades, small businesses, and entire communities. These are high-paying careers that allow Americans to build lasting prosperity while strengthening the nation's industrial backbone.

“Made in America” is not just a label on the product itself, but an indication of pride in the work of our laborers, innovators, and craftsmen. It is an indication of trust in the ability of the country to create the best products in the world when allowed to compete.

In light of America250 celebrations, now is the time to recall what made this nation unique in the first place. Earlier generations built up the Arsenal of Democracy, created the most productive economy in the world, and showed the capability of American industry to achieve what seemed to be impossible.

Now a new generation is upholding that proud tradition.

The rebirth of manufacturing unfolding in America is much more than simply a success story for the economy. It is a matter of national security. We are regaining independence through the rejuvenation of our industrial base, energy independence, secure access to our critical mineral supplies, and reinvesting in our own people.

This is the true legacy of Made in America. As we embark upon the next 250 years, it is one that must be kept.