US Lawmakers Seek Testimony From Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Over Nvidia AI Chip Sales to China

US lawmakers are pressing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify before Congress over his department's decision to permit the sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from senators on both sides of the aisle. According to reports, the approved shipments involve several billion dollars worth of high-end AI hardware, raising questions about whether export controls are being enforced firmly enough.

Senator John Kennedy said Congress would not drop the issue, while Senator Josh Hawley described the situation as a major national security concern and questioned where the exported chips ultimately end up. Senator Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has reportedly written to the Commerce Department requesting that Lutnick brief the committee on how the decision was reached.

The Senate Banking Committee, chaired by Senator Tim Scott, has invited both Lutnick and former Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang to testify on December 3. House investigators are also said to be seeking appearances from both men, signalling that congressional scrutiny of the chip export policy is widening beyond a single hearing.

The controversy follows reports that Jensen Huang resigned from the company this week and has acknowledged a personal relationship with Alice Huang, a woman described in media reports as an alleged asset of Chinese intelligence. The report could not be independently verified. The US Justice Department is reportedly investigating two companies, Singapore-based Megaspeed and Super Micro Computer, while also pursuing a separate antitrust inquiry.

The debate has revived a broader argument in Washington over AI chip export policy. Supporters of tighter controls argue that advanced semiconductors are precisely where China remains dependent on foreign technology, and that allowing sales undermines the stated goal of maintaining a lead in artificial intelligence. A March Justice Department indictment also described an alleged scheme in which high-performance computer servers were assembled in the United States and routed through Taiwan in an effort to reach China despite import restrictions.

The outcome of the congressional pressure campaign could shape how the US balances commercial interests in the semiconductor industry against national security priorities. For technology firms and global supply chains, the hearings are likely to be closely watched for any signal that export licensing rules may be tightened further.