There is a growing push in Washington to subsidize domestic computer chip production so the United States can maintain its technological lead over China, but a prominent former government scientist has warned that such a policy could be counterproductive and antithetical to American values. On Thursday morning, 19 trade associations wrote a joint letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to pass the CHIPS for America Act—a bill that would allocate $52 billion for the promotion of the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing industry. The letter followed a Tuesday House Subcommittee on Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research (STAR) hearing on microelectronics, where multiple participants also expressed support for the CHIPS for America Act. Semiconductors, or chips, play a vital role in the economy, helping power computers, smartphones and numerous other technologies. Chips have been in short supply in recent months due to supply chain disruptions stemming from government lockdowns. Much of the semiconductor supply …