Workers at Whirlpool, one of the United States’ largest appliance makers, are speaking out against job cuts at their Iowa plant as the company expands production in Mexico. This comes despite Whirlpool’s public praise for Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which were promised to revive US manufacturing.

Since Trump took office in January 2025, the US has lost more than 83,000 factory jobs, raising questions about the effectiveness of tariffs in protecting domestic manufacturing.

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Whirlpool Job Cuts

Iowa Plant Facing Reductions

Effective March 9, 341 jobs will be cut at Whirlpool’s Amana, Iowa plant. This follows earlier reductions in July 2025, when 250 jobs were eliminated. The plant produces refrigerators under brands including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, and Amana.

Union officials with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) report that the company has indicated more cuts may be coming later this year.

Offshoring Production

Whirlpool opened a new manufacturing facility in Mexico in August 2025. Workers and union representatives say production lines and jobs have been shifted from Iowa to the Mexican plant.

Sandra Freytag, first-shift plant chair with 31 years of experience, said:

“Now we’re seeing that they’re making our product in Mexico.”

The plant’s workforce has shrunk dramatically over the years, from nearly 3,000 employees to around 1,300 today, and Freytag fears more cuts are likely.

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Contradiction With Trump’s Tariffs

Whirlpool has publicly supported Trump’s tariffs, claiming they would strengthen US manufacturing. Yet workers argue that the job cuts and offshoring show that tariffs have done little to prevent companies from moving production abroad.

The contrast between corporate rhetoric and the reality on the factory floor highlights ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of trade policies in protecting American jobs.

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Broader Context

Whirlpool employs about 20,000 people in the US, including 14,000 in manufacturing across 10 factories. The company’s actions in Iowa reflect a broader trend of offshoring even as tariffs and trade policies are touted as tools to bring jobs back to the US.

Workers and union leaders say the cuts are demoralizing and undermine the promises made about the benefits of protectionist trade measures.

Whirlpool’s job reductions in Iowa, paired with expanded production in Mexico, have left workers questioning the value of tariffs and the company’s commitment to US manufacturing. The situation underscores a growing tension between political promises and the realities facing American factory workers.

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