Lutnick agrees to Senate testimony on Nvidia export controls as lawmakers seek faster answers

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed on November 12, 2026, to testify voluntarily before the Senate Banking Committee, his spokesperson told NBC News. The commitment puts the official responsible for administering chip-export restrictions before lawmakers from both parties who want answers about Nvidia, possible access to its chips in China and the government's handling of national-security concerns.

Agreement to appear, pressure to move faster

Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, sent letters asking Lutnick to appear on December 10 and Jensen Huang to testify on December 3. Scott described the proposed public hearing with Lutnick as an examination of reports involving Nvidia and the Commerce Department that raise national-security concerns.

Some Republicans do not want to wait until next month. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina urged Lutnick to come before Thanksgiving and lay out the facts. Tillis argued that appearing while Republicans still control Congress would give the secretary a more receptive audience than he would face under Democratic control next year.

Before Lutnick's agreement, Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal said the secretary might need to be subpoenaed if he did not appear voluntarily. North Dakota Republican Kevin Cramer also urged voluntary testimony, saying a subpoena should be used if necessary. Their demands crossed party lines even before the spokesperson confirmed Lutnick would appear.

The questions reach beyond Huang

The senators' questions focus on government decisions as well as Nvidia's conduct. Blumenthal wants to know whether export controls were relaxed. Indiana Republican Jim Banks raised concerns that chips had been exported despite President Donald Trump's orders to stop those shipments, describing the issue as a source of bipartisan concern.

Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren demanded that Lutnick explain why export-control loopholes had not been closed. She also called for immediate action to keep advanced U.S. technology from supporting China's military. Scott's letter placed responsibility at Commerce because the department issues and enforces export-control regulations.

NBC News reported that Huang resigned as Nvidia's chief executive on November 12 after reports of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy. The outlet said those reports intensified concerns that Chinese AI companies may have obtained Nvidia chips through smuggling or other illegal access. Those possibilities remain allegations.

Nvidia says it complies with U.S. export laws. The White House, meanwhile, defended Lutnick, saying Trump maintains complete confidence in the secretary and his ability to do the job. Those positions sit alongside congressional demands for an explanation of how the restrictions were administered.

A public hearing and a private interview

The testimony requests follow a demand to protect the documentary record. On November 11, Warren and Senator Chris Coons sent Lutnick, Marco Rubio and Stephen Miller a records-preservation letter concerning Nvidia's advanced-chip exports and related security risks. They requested written confirmation by November 17 that preservation instructions had been issued across the officials' offices.

The requested records cover communications between Nvidia executives and senior administration officials, investigations into potential chip smuggling, and decisions to weaken or suspend export controls. Warren and Coons also sought a congressional briefing on the security risks of the reported intelligence operation, extending their request beyond preserving documents.

Mast said Huang had agreed to brief lawmakers, although the date and venue were still being negotiated. That agreement is separate from Scott's Senate request: Huang's representatives did not immediately respond to NBC News's request for comment on Scott's letter. The requested dates therefore should not be read as confirmed appearances by Huang.