U.S. Steel Halts Illinois Granite City Production Maintains 800 Jobs Through 2027

U.S. Steel will halt steel production at its Granite City Works mill in Illinois by the end of October or early November, but will retain nearly 800 employees on payroll through at least mid-2027. This arrangement is part of a national security agreement brokered by President Donald Trump in connection with Nippon Steel's $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, which requires maintaining staffing levels and keeping the facility operational despite the production pause. The company will shift steel slab production to its Mon Valley Works in Pennsylvania and Gary Works in Indiana, optimizing operations and reducing slab consumption at Granite City. Employees at Granite City will continue maintenance and auxiliary operations without pay cuts, enabling production to restart if market conditions improve. The deal, which faced national security scrutiny and political challenges, includes promises of $11 billion in investments and the creation and retention of 100,000 jobs. The United Steelworkers union has expressed concerns about Nippon Steel's trade history but acknowledged no immediate layoffs are planned under the current agreement.