Congress seeks Jensen Huang, Lutnick testimony on Nvidia chip exports to China
In brief
- Sen. Tim Scott asked Jensen Huang to appear at a December 3 Senate Banking hearing.
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed to testify voluntarily on December 10, a spokesperson told NBC News.
- Three Republican House chairs requested closed-door interviews with Huang and Nvidia's general counsel, threatening subpoenas.
- Megaspeed, a Singapore-based Nvidia customer named in New York Times reporting, is the inquiries' focus.
What lawmakers asked for
In a letter dated November 12, Scott asked Huang to appear voluntarily at a public hearing on December 3. The committee has jurisdiction over export controls, he wrote, including how they apply to Nvidia's exports of advanced semiconductors. If Huang doesn't appear, the letter said, the committee is prepared to use all tools at its disposal (including subpoenas).
Scott asked Lutnick to testify on December 10, citing Commerce's central role in issuing and enforcing export control regulations. A Lutnick spokesperson told NBC News he'd agreed to appear voluntarily, and the White House said President Donald Trump maintains complete confidence in him.
On the House side, Reps. Brian Mast, John Moolenaar and Rick Crawford (the Republican chairs of the Foreign Affairs, China and Intelligence committees) wrote to Huang, Nvidia General Counsel Tim Teter and Commerce under secretary Jeffrey Kessler. They asked Huang for a transcribed interview on December 1 and Teter for one on December 2. Each had until 8 p.m. Friday to agree or face a subpoena.
It's the chairs' second request. A November 4 letter had asked Huang to brief the committees on November 18, and Mast told reporters Thursday that Huang had agreed to brief lawmakers, NBC News reported. The chairs invited Kessler, whose bureau administers export controls, to a December 3 hearing, and they want four chip security bills added to the annual defense authorization bill.
"As reports continue to come to light regarding Jensen Huang, NVIDIA, and MegaSpeed, there are clear national security concerns that need to be addressed immediately," the three chairs said in a statement.
Megaspeed at the center
The inquiries center on Megaspeed, a Singapore-based Nvidia customer. The New York Times reported in October that U.S. officials suspected the company of helping Chinese firms get around restrictions on advanced AI chips. Its sister company in Malaysia bought at least $4.8 billion of AI equipment containing Nvidia chips between June 2024 and February 2026, according to trade records cited by the Times. Megaspeed told the paper it had hired outside counsel to conduct an internal investigation.
The Times also reported that officials had concluded Alice Huang, a former Megaspeed executive, was a Chinese intelligence asset. China rejected that as a smear, and Attorney General Todd Blanche said Thursday the Justice Department hasn't reached a conclusion, according to BBC News.
Nvidia has said it complies with U.S. export laws, according to NBC News.
Huang's exit
Huang admitted on Sunday to being unfaithful to his wife and resigned on Thursday, Decrypt reported. Nvidia's board said it has no reason to believe national security or company secrets were compromised. Moolenaar told reporters Huang had "been one of the strongest proponents for not having export controls," Roll Call reported.
Frequently asked questions
What is Megaspeed and why is it part of the congressional inquiries?
Megaspeed is a Singapore-based Nvidia customer at the center of the inquiries. The New York Times reported in October that U.S. officials suspected it of helping Chinese firms get around restrictions on advanced AI chips. Megaspeed told the Times it had hired outside counsel to conduct an internal investigation.
When are Jensen Huang and Howard Lutnick asked to testify?
Sen. Tim Scott asked Huang to appear at a public Senate Banking hearing on December 3 and Lutnick on December 10. House chairs separately asked Huang for a closed-door, transcribed interview on December 1. A Lutnick spokesperson told NBC News he agreed to appear voluntarily.
