The Fab City movement, driven by an inclusive, sustainable, and circular vision, now faces a political dynamic in the United States that directly threatens its foundations. Since his return to the presidency in January 2025, Donald Trump has implemented a series of measures that undermine climate initiatives, biodiversity efforts, and social innovations championed by the Fab City movement.

The elimination of the National Nature Assessment and the censorship of climate-related content on government websites reveal a deliberate denial of environmental urgency. Yet Fab City advocate for an experimental and holistic approach, essential for addressing climate disruption challenges and promoting bioregional production that respects ecosystems. By ignoring these issues, the Trump administration weakens the efforts toward local production and energy autonomy pursued by Fab Labs and cities committed to the Fab City approach.

Moreover, protectionist measures, such as massive tariffs targeting Canada, Mexico, and BRICS member states, threaten to disrupt the supply chains of materials and equipment essential to Fab Lab projects. These trade barriers complicate access to tools crucial for local digital fabrication initiatives and international collaborative innovation efforts.

However, these troubled times could also offer opportunities. Faced with political regression favoring outdated industries and rejecting environmental standards, Fab City actors can play a key role by embodying a constructive alternative rooted in the real needs of territories. By developing solutions based on short supply chains, the circular economy, and open-source technologies, Fab Cities can reaffirm their relevance.

The emphasis on distributed production, renewable energies, and citizen-driven innovation aligns perfectly with the goal of strengthening local autonomy. The bioregion, as a suitable response to 21st-century challenges, could become a strategic tool against the centralization and political manipulation of natural resources.

Fab Labs, as spaces of creativity and technological democratization, can support these dynamics by educating citizens and multiplying innovative solutions at the local level. The objective is not merely to resist hostile policies but to offer a sustainable, inclusive, and participatory model that concretely addresses citizens’ needs.

In this uncertain context, the strength of the Fab City movement lies in its ability to unite community actors, institutions, and businesses engaged in ecological and social transition. The momentum initiated during the Fab City Montréal Campus and the continued promotion of bioregionalism will be essential in preserving the movement’s core values. Now more than ever, the time has come to strengthen local and international solidarities to build a fairer and more sustainable future.