Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim on Monday criticized the Trump administration for potentially allowing advanced US AI chips to be sent to overseas units of Chinese companies, and called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify before Congress on the matter, according to reports.
In a surprise move, the Commerce Department, which oversees US exports, on Sunday issued guidance to close a loophole that could have allowed companies to export the world’s most advanced chips – such as Nvidia’s latest Blackwell processors – to subsidiaries of Chinese companies outside of China.
“On Sunday afternoon, the Trump Administration revealed that its failure to update export control regulations over the past year and a half may have inadvertently allowed the most advanced American chips to flow to companies headquartered in China, which could increase China’s military power,” said Warren of Massachusetts, who also serves as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“Secretary Howard Lutnick should testify before the Senate Banking Committee about how his reckless mismanagement of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security is endangering our national security.”
The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
