Mike Rogers, a former congressman and Florida resident, has faced criticism for opposing a $500 million federal grant intended to protect hundreds of union jobs at General Motors’ Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan. During discussions about the grant in 2024, Rogers described the proposal as a “bad investment” and stated that he did not believe the federal government should move forward with it. The grant was projected to create 50 new jobs and save 650 existing positions for unionized workers.
The debate comes as trade tensions continue between the United States and Canada, with Canada reportedly seeking closer ties with China and reducing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The Detroit Auto Show is ongoing amid these developments.
In 2025, reports indicated that the Trump administration considered using a government shutdown to pursue what some called “political retribution,” potentially canceling over $1 billion in federal grants for automakers GM and Stellantis, including $800 million targeted for Michigan. Among these threatened investments was the same grant opposed by Rogers.
Rogers has also drawn attention for remarks suggesting there is no longer a “Big Three” automaker presence in Michigan, effectively dismissing Stellantis and its workforce of approximately 48,000 U.S. autoworkers. Curtis Hertel, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, criticized this position: “a huge mistake,” calling it “incredibly insulting to the union men and women who actually work on the line building those cars.”
Rogers has not commented publicly after former President Donald Trump encouraged U.S. automakers to allow increased competition from China—an idea industry leaders warn could replace domestic supply chains with Chinese ones. This stance was criticized by Michigan Democrats including Senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, who described it as “bad for Michigan’s auto workers” and labeled it a “major national security risk.”
The Michigan Democratic Party continues its efforts across the state to support families, seniors, students, and veterans while promoting grassroots involvement and electing Democrats statewide through initiatives such as volunteering opportunities and resources for running for office (https://michigandems.com). The party operates from its headquarters in Lansing (https://michigandems.com) and remains focused on strengthening community engagement throughout Michigan (https://michigandems.com).
