National Center for the Advancement of Semiconductor Technology (NATCAST)

Background

The National Center for the Advancement of Semiconductor Technology, also known as Natcast, was first created in 2023 to oversee the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), a  think tank to oversee semiconductor technology development. ^{1 2}

NSTC is run by a consortium established through the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. The consortium “is not a legal entity and does not have a staff,” but is governed by a steering committee. ^{1 2}

Activities

In 2024, the Biden administration announced $5 billion in funding for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) towards semiconductor workforce development, convening stakeholders, increasing education and training programs, and launching new initiatives meant to “engage underserved communities.” ³ By January 2025, before the end of the Biden administration, total planned funding for Natcast was raised to $7.4 billion. ⁴

In August 2025, the second Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it would cancel the $7.4 billion in funding to Natcast for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) while control over NSTC was given to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick alleged “Natcast served as a semiconductor slush fund that did nothing but line the pockets of Biden loyalists with American tax dollars.” ⁴

Leadership

Deirdre Hanford is the founder and CEO of Natcast. Hanford previously worked several roles with electronic design automation company Synopsys, including as chief security officer. Hanford is a former board member of Cirrus Logic, a software and hardware consulting firm, and the National Defense Industrial Association. Hanford was on the CHIPS Industrial Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Commerce. ^{5 6}