Congressman Max Miller Leads Bicameral Letter to Secretary Lutnick Regarding the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Max Miller (OH-07) led a bicameral letter to Secretary Lutnick to express deep concern regarding the abrupt federal suspension of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) award. This action was taken before publication of a final OIG audit report, and without providing Ohio or its regional MEP centers with any meaningful opportunity to review findings, respond, or undertake corrective actions. Senator Jon Husted and Representatives Turner, Latta, Joyce, Carey, Rulli, and Taylor joined Congressman Miller in this effort.

While the audit process must continue, the letter respectfully requests that the Secretary take the following actions: 

• Maintain MEP operations until the OIG releases a final audit report and Ohio and its subrecipients have been given a formal opportunity to respond. 
• Restore funding during the review period. This will prevent irreversible loss of technical staff and capacity, protect ongoing projects, and avert economic harm to manufacturers across the state. 
• Provide a transparent, written due-process framework. This should include draft findings, a defined response period, expectations for corrective actions, and a clear, mutually understood timeline. 

The full letter can be found here.