Representative Ro Khanna of California’s 17th district recently shared his thoughts on the impact of failed policies on American manufacturing jobs through a series of tweets. These messages highlight the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector due to offshoring and current economic policies. Rep. Khanna, who has served in Congress since 2017, underlines the consequences of these developments on U.S. workers.
On April 11, 2025, Rep. Khanna expressed his concern through Twitter, stating, “For decades, failed policies have resulted in the offshoring of American jobs and have caused manufacturing towns to suffer.” He further noted the recent job losses experienced by 2,474 Americans as a result of mass layoffs by ten companies and the closure of six companies.
In a subsequent tweet on the same day, Khanna addressed the automobile manufacturing sector, mentioning, “159 workers were fired from automobile parts manufacturers after Lippert Components Inc. closed in Chesaning, Michigan.” He also highlighted the economic impact of former President Trump’s 25% auto tariff, which is projected to increase costs by about $108 billion for U.S. automakers this year.
Continuing his discussion, Khanna pointed to the closure of a manufacturing plant in Indiana, noting, “In Lafayette, Indiana, aluminum products manufacturer US Arconic closed due to external market factors, costing 163 people their jobs.”
Ro Khanna, born in 1976 in Philadelphia and currently residing in Fremont, California, holds a BA from the University of Chicago and a JD from Yale University. He has been advocating for policies to boost local manufacturing and reduce dependence on offshored jobs.
