Sources reveal that the U.S. government has requested Eli Lilly to increase insulin production, asked Pfizer to expand capacity for its blockbuster cancer drug Ibrance and cholesterol-lowering medication Lipitor, and urged London-based AstraZeneca to consider establishing a new headquarters in the United States.

According to two informed sources, pharmaceutical industry executives have been receiving daily calls from White House staff, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, as well as senior officials from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Commerce.

However, pharmaceutical companies represent just the tip of the iceberg.

More than six informed sources disclose that the Trump administration is pursuing deals spanning up to 30 industries, involving dozens of companies considered critical to national security or economic security.

In some cases, the government offers tariff relief in exchange for corporate concessions, revenue guarantees, or equity stakes in troubled companies, while providing other forms of assistance. Sources indicate this rapid-pace deal negotiation aims to secure political victories for Trump ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

On Tuesday, Trump announced an agreement with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla: Pfizer agreed to reduce drug prices in exchange for the U.S. government canceling proposed tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals. "America will no longer subsidize healthcare for the rest of the world," Trump stated during an event in the Oval Office.

Two sources note that equally important as the deals themselves is the "exposure format" — all agreements must be announced at the White House.

Eli Lilly "learned this lesson" when the company announced new production facilities in September without inviting Trump's participation, subsequently receiving government calls questioning why the president wasn't allowed to personally announce the news.

An Eli Lilly spokesperson stated they were unaware of this government communication and noted that "as an American company, Eli Lilly is committed to expanding production capacity in the United States."

Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca declined to comment. The White House refused to comment on Eli Lilly's announcement or specific details of the government's plans.

This all falls under what White House spokesperson Kush Desai calls a "whole-of-government collaborative" deal strategy aimed at "protecting national and economic security."

Six informed sources reveal the plan aims to leverage the government's broad powers to drive companies toward Trump's objectives: bringing manufacturing back to America, reducing dependence on China, strengthening critical product supply chains, and increasing government revenue.

Sources indicate the government has reached out to multiple corners of the economy, covering semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, critical minerals, shipbuilding, energy, battery production, pharmaceuticals, and freight industries.

Previously, the complete scope of the government's plan has never been publicly reported.

Overall, these government intervention plans in the U.S. economy reverse decades of "hands-off" policy toward private enterprise — a hallmark characteristic of American capitalism.

"It's surprising that a Republican administration is taking us away from traditional capitalism to a degree far exceeding any previous Democratic administration," said John Coffee, a corporate law professor at Columbia University in New York.

$250 Billion Financing Plan

Two sources indicate the Trump administration is counting on a little-known federal agency — the International Development Finance Corporation — to play a key role in overseeing and funding the plan.

This agency was established during Trump's first term under the 2018 BUILD Act, initially intended to provide low-cost financing for food, medical, and other projects in developing countries.

However, in June this year, the agency submitted a proposal to Congress requesting significant expansion of its authority and scope.

The legislation would increase the agency's financing capacity from $60 billion to $250 billion, more than tripling it, while establishing an equity fund to support critical areas including infrastructure, energy, critical and rare earth minerals, supply chains — covering virtually all areas "aligned with American economic and national security interests."

Currently, the agency awaits Congressional approval of its budget and confirmation of Ben Black, son of Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black, as the agency's head. Black's spokesperson stated he cannot comment on International Development Finance Corporation matters until Senate confirmation of his appointment.

An International Development Finance Corporation official declined to comment on specific deals but stated the agency's mission is to "mobilize private sector investment in projects that advance U.S. foreign policy and economic interests, including projects that reduce dependence on China-controlled critical minerals and materials."

A U.S. official disclosed to sources that the government also plans to use $550 billion in funds provided by Japan under trade agreements to provide startup funding for the "American Investment Accelerator" project led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Japan must provide these funds before the end of Trump's term.

Three sources indicate the Commerce Department's "Investment Accelerator" and the International Development Finance Corporation will reportedly replace the sovereign wealth fund Trump initially planned to establish but later canceled.

Federal Agencies as "Deal Makers"

At the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), deal-seeking work is led by former Silicon Valley medical investor Chris Kremp and former health policy advisor John Brooks, while Wiles personally participates in negotiations for major pharmaceutical deals.

When requested to interview Kremp and Brooks, an HHS spokesperson referred the request to the White House.

Former bond trader Lutnick, now chairman of financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald, serves as Trump's "chief deal maker." He oversees most of the government's major deals, including the government's acquisition of a 10% stake in Intel and the Commerce Department's "golden share" (special management rights) when Japan Steel acquired U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion in June.

Lutnick declined to comment through a spokesperson but has become a strong advocate for "America holding corporate equity."

"If we're going to give you money, we should get a piece of the action," Lutnick said in an August CNBC interview.

Two sources indicate he has hired two Wall Street deal experts to handle some transactions: technology banker Michael Grimes, who joined the government from Morgan Stanley several months ago, and former Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz partner and M&A attorney David Shapiro.

JPMorgan, which assisted the government in reaching a deal with rare earth mining company MP Materials, stated in a recent podcast that since the deal's announcement in July, it has assembled a special task force of commercial bankers, lobbyists, and investment bankers to handle corporate client inquiries.

"We've had no fewer than 100 communications with clients discussing the MP deal and what this means for other industries," said Andrew Castaldo, JPMorgan's co-head of middle-market M&A. "We've also made multiple trips to Washington to explore these cooperation opportunities with the government."

Both Shapiro and Grimes declined to comment through spokespersons.

The U.S. official stated Lutnick plans to recruit more senior deal talent from Wall Street for the "Investment Accelerator" in the coming weeks.

Two sources reveal that at the White House, newly appointed supply chain chief David Copley leads most negotiations, while Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg heads communications with defense contractors.

Feinberg and Copley declined to comment, and the Department of Defense referred interview requests to the White House.

Some companies welcome the government's approach, viewing it as an opportunity to secure federal funding and benefit from policy initiatives; others feel uneasy about negotiating with the government.

A critical minerals industry executive stated his peers are "concerned that when we go to meetings about loans or grants, the government will say: 'We want 10% of your company.'"

Other companies worry that business decisions based on current policies might become invalid in three years due to policy changes.

"The biggest concern is that this policy might be short-term," said Y. David Scharf, chairman and co-managing partner of Morrison Cohen law firm (which represents some companies in negotiations with the U.S. government). "If the next administration's views are completely opposite to the current ones, would all existing arrangements need to be overturned?"

Critics argue that such deep government intervention in the private sector could undermine America's free market principles and place the government in the role of "picking winners and losers."

"It's contradictory that those who previously championed free markets now support the state-directed model they once criticized," said Aldo Musacchio, an expert on state capitalism and author of works including "Reinventing State Capitalism."

Three sources disclosed that the government doesn't view holding corporate equity as "ideological regression" but sees it as a pragmatic means to reduce risks in strategic sectors, protect taxpayer interests, and restore American manufacturing jobs.

Deal Pattern Taking Shape

Four sources indicate that while specific deal details vary, the agreement with MP Materials can serve as a rough template for future transactions. In that deal, the U.S. Department of Defense acquired a 15% stake in MP Materials under the Cold War-era Defense Production Act, set floor prices for future U.S. critical mineral purchases, and prompted Apple to commit to a $500 million long-term agreement to purchase the company's recycled magnets.

MP Materials declined to comment.

The government has utilized various funding sources to finance some deals. For example, in the Intel transaction, the government converted a grant under the CHIPS and Science Act through the Commerce Department into a 10% equity stake.

In another case, as previously reported, U.S. Department of Energy loan program head Greg Beard requested Lithium Americas to surrender partial equity to advance a $2.26 billion loan approved in 2021; Lithium Americas proposed surrendering 5% to 10% equity.

Beard declined to comment through a Department of Energy spokesperson, who stated the department is "continuing to coordinate with departments and the White House to ensure necessary domestic supply chains are established to provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy for the American people."

Lithium Americas declined to comment. The company's Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada is scheduled to begin production in 2028 and will become the largest lithium resource site in the Western Hemisphere upon completion.

Five informed sources reveal that during a July 24 White House meeting, Trump advisors Peter Navarro and Copley informed rare earth and major technology company executives that following China's suspension of magnet and other critical material exports earlier this year, the government is adopting a "pandemic-like response strategy" to increase America's critical mineral supply.

Mark Jensen, CEO of mineral refining company ReElement Technologies, attended the meeting. He stated: "The government wants to see credible projects and projects with viable partnership relationships."