America's Humanoid Robot Moment: Agility Robotics CEO Lays Out a Six-Point Plan
Peggy Johnson wants federal policy to catch up with the factory floor. Here is what she is asking for, and why it matters for American workers.
Key points
- Agility Robotics CEO Peggy Johnson published six policy recommendations in 2025 aimed at keeping the United States competitive in humanoid robotics.
- China currently produces 90% of the world's permanent magnets used inside robot motors, giving it a large supply-chain advantage.
- China announced a goal in 2023 to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025, with a full national strategy already in place.
- Johnson argues that without deliberate U.S. action, the domestic industrial base that supports robotics could weaken, with consequences for national security.
- Cost remains the single biggest barrier stopping small manufacturers from adopting humanoid robots today.
Humanoid robots, machines built roughly in the shape of a human body so they can work in spaces designed for people, are no longer a lab curiosity. They are lifting boxes in warehouses and walking factory floors right now. Agility Robotics, one of the companies that has been pushing this shift hardest, thinks the trend is only going to accelerate.
But Agility's chief executive, Peggy Johnson, is worried the United States is not ready for what comes next.
In a recent video, Johnson laid out six things she wants policymakers to do. Her concern is straightforward: China has a plan, and the U.S. does not.
The supply chain problem is urgent. Johnson's first point is about parts. Robot builders must import certain critical components because American factories do not yet make enough of them. Permanent magnets, small but powerful magnets that sit inside the motors that move a robot's joints, are a clear example. China makes 90% of the world's supply, according to a McKinsey report. Johnson is asking policymakers to fund domestic production so that supply cannot be cut off.
China announced in 2023 that it aimed to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025, backed by a full national strategy. Johnson wants the U.S. to build something similar: a coordinated plan across federal agencies and private industry. As first reported by The Robot Report, she warned that falling behind is not just a business problem but a national security risk.
What does this mean for ordinary workers?
Johnson is not asking policymakers to ignore the people already working in factories. She specifically calls for investment in training programs, apprenticeships, and partnerships with technical colleges, so that workers gain the skills to maintain and work alongside robots rather than simply being replaced by them. Research she cited suggests robots more often complement human workers than push them out entirely.
Her other three recommendations are practical housekeeping. She wants safety standards developed by industry groups, not imposed by slow-moving regulation, to keep innovation moving. She wants incentives, such as subsidised loans or early-adopter schemes, to help small and mid-sized manufacturers afford the technology. And she wants clear rules for government purchasing, so agencies in logistics and defence can buy humanoid robots without drowning in procurement red tape.
The price barrier is real. A humanoid robot today costs far more than the annual wage of the worker it might assist, which is why only large companies can currently afford to experiment. Johnson's push for financing tools is aimed directly at that gap.
Whether Congress moves on any of this remains to be seen. What is clear is that the machines are ready. The policy framework, not so much.
