This isn’t the old model of writing checks during a crisis. It’s a new strategy rooted in national security, competition with China, and securing the resources and technologies that America can no longer afford to rely on foreign powers to supply.

The Government Is Now Picking Economic Winners

In July 2025, the government started investing in rare-earth mineral companies. Two months later, it bought a stake in Intel. And now there’s talk of the government targeting quantum technology companies next.

That’s a profound shift. For decades, the U.S. has relied on the private sector to drive innovation while the government played a supporting role. But as global tensions rise especially with China the government is stepping directly into the arena.

The pattern is clear: if a company controls something essential for national security, the government wants a seat at the table.

The Real Motivation: National Security

For years, we’ve depended heavily on China for microchips, rare earth metals, and even energy components. That’s a problem. If we can’t secure what we need to build technology, cars, weapons systems, or even household electronics, our economy becomes vulnerable.

By buying stakes in companies and investing in specific industries, the government is trying to fix that vulnerability before it becomes a crisis.

In other words, this isn’t just economics it’s national defense.

We’ve Seen This Before: Remember AIG?

During the 2008 financial crisis, the government didn’t save every company it saved AIG, because AIG’s collapse would have destroyed the entire financial system. That decision was political as much as financial.

Now it’s happening again, but for different reasons.

Back in 2008, the government bailed out what was systemically important. Today, it’s buying into what’s strategically important—technologies and resources that America cannot lose control of.

Where the Money Is Coming From

This isn’t small money, either. Congress is approving massive funding packages:

• $280 billion from the Chips and Science Act
• Nearly $400 billion in total when you include grants, loans, and tax credits from additional legislation
• Billions more from taxpayer-funded discretionary spending

Whether we realize it or not, everyone in the U.S. is investing in these companies indirectly through federal budgets and tax dollars.

The Sectors the Government Is Targeting

The investments aren’t random. They’re strategic and they point to the industries the government believes will matter most over the next decade.

1. Rare Earth Minerals

We need them for missiles, batteries, EVs, smartphones, and energy systems. China controls about 70% of global supply. That’s why the U.S. is aggressively investing in domestic mining.

2. Semiconductor Manufacturing

The Intel stake was only the beginning. If the U.S. loses chip independence, everything else becomes vulnerable.

3. Steel and Industrial Materials

With “golden share” arrangements, the government can influence corporate decisions without full ownership.

4. Quantum Computing

This is the next frontier faster computing, advanced defense systems, encrypted communication. Whoever leads quantum leads the future.

What This Means for Investors

Whether we like it or not, government money changes the game. Once Washington decides a company or sector is strategically essential, that company becomes:

• Less likely to fail
• More likely to get favorable regulation
• More likely to receive grants, tax incentives, and contracts
• More insulated from market shocks

This doesn’t mean every government-backed company becomes a great investment but it does mean ignoring government strategy is a mistake.

In today’s environment, understanding government priorities is just as important as understanding market fundamentals.

The Bottom Line: Follow the Strategy, Not the Headlines

From where I stand, this shift is one of the biggest under-the-radar stories in American economics. The government is no longer just influencing the economy through interest rates and regulation it’s now actively buying stakes in companies and shaping the future of critical industries.

And whenever the government starts picking winners and losers, it pays literally, to pay attention.

Jaspreet Singh is not a licensed financial advisor. He is a licensed attorney, but he is not providing you with legal advice in this article. This article, the topics discussed, and ideas presented are Jaspreet’s opinions and presented for entertainment purposes only. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence.

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