During a May 30, 2025 rally, President Trump announced that the U.S. government would control a 'golden share' in U.S. Steel following its deal with Nippon Steel. This move, intended as a national security measure, has raised concerns among investors and union members over corporate governance, board control, and transparency regarding the deal's impact on worker rights.

US Steel spent $990,000 on lobbying in 2025, as reported by OpenSecrets. The expenditure raises concerns about the company leveraging its financial power to influence political decisions in a way that could undermine labor rights and progressive reforms.

On January 6, 2025, following President Biden’s executive order to block Nippon Steel’s proposed $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, the company, alongside Nippon Steel, filed lawsuits challenging the decision. In a joint statement, U.S. Steel argued that despite their transparent engagement with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the outcome was predetermined to serve the political objectives of the Biden administration, potentially prioritizing corporate interests over national security and domestic worker protections.

After the Biden administration blocked Nippon Steel's $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel over national security and supply-chain concerns, CEO David B. Burritt condemned the decision as 'shameful' and 'corrupt', alleging it was politically motivated to benefit union leaders and at the expense of workers and national security.

On January 3, 2025, U.S. Steel’s CEO defended the proposed $14.9 billion acquisition by Japan's Nippon Steel Corporation despite national security concerns raised by President Biden and opposition from the steel workers’ union. The merger, argued to benefit investors and expand the company’s international presence, was blocked by the administration on the grounds that it could jeopardize vital domestic industries and critical supply chains.

On January 3, 2025, U.S. Steel, alongside Nippon Steel Corporation, issued a statement condemning the U.S. government's decision to block the proposed acquisition by Nippon Steel. The companies argued that the decision was politically motivated, violated due process, and jeopardized thousands of union jobs and community revitalization efforts.

US Steel Corporation spent $925,000 on lobbying during the first quarter of 2023, as reported by OpenSecrets. The expenditure highlights the company’s active engagement in shaping federal policy, raising concerns about corporate influence on democratic processes and potential impacts on worker rights.