House Democrats Urge Commerce to Halt AI Chip Exports to China Over Huang Spy Reports

The letter, dated November 9, was signed by Gregory Meeks of New York, the committee's ranking member; Gabe Amo of Rhode Island, its vice ranking member; and Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California, ranking member of the subcommittee on South and Central Asia, according to a release from the committee's Democrats.

The letter shifts the congressional response to the Huang affair from Nvidia's own conduct to the administration's export decisions. The Commerce Department licenses sales of advanced chips abroad, and the lawmakers question its approval of such exports, including to companies they describe as having concerning links to China.

They ask what the department knew about the reported connections, when senior officials were told and why it continued to allow the exports. They also ask whether Commerce was briefed on a suspected intelligence operation by the People's Republic of China and how it responded, and, if it was not briefed, why not. "National security must come before corporate sales targets," the lawmakers wrote. The release does not name specific companies or licences and sets no deadline for a reply.

Meeks and Amo had already challenged Lutnick in January 2026 over the administration's loosening of export controls and its approval of advanced AI chip sales to China, the release said.

Nvidia's board has opened an independent investigation following reports that Huang had a relationship with a woman suspected of passing information to Beijing. China has denied using a spy to target him, and President Donald Trump said on Monday that Huang told him he had no idea the woman was a spy.

Pressure is also coming from the party's leadership. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Monday that Congress needs more answers about Nvidia and that he wants China chip restrictions included in the final version of the annual defence bill, which is still being negotiated.