White House considers removing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over Nvidia chip exports
Officials are debating Lutnick's position as lawmakers scrutinise the sale of advanced AI chips to Chinese entities.
Senior White House officials are discussing whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should leave his post, according to a Reuters report cited by Hindustan Times. The discussions follow increased scrutiny regarding the export of advanced Nvidia chips to China.
The debate comes as lawmakers question how the administration manages Chinese companies suspected of posing national security risks. Criticism of Lutnick has grown after the resignation of former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, following reports of his relationship with an executive linked to a Singapore-based chip buyer.
Democratic lawmakers Ron Wyden and Richard Neal have started an investigation into the administration's authorisation of Nvidia's AI chip sales to Chinese firms. They expressed concerns regarding buyers that allegedly have connections to the Chinese military, government, and sanctioned entities.
Lawmakers have also questioned a reported December 2025 decision by President Donald Trump to permit Nvidia to sell H200 chips to China in exchange for a portion of the export revenue. They described this arrangement as an unconstitutional export tax.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton has called on Lutnick to prevent the Chinese chipmaker CXMT from accessing American technology and the US market. Meanwhile, the White House previously stated that President Trump maintains complete confidence in the secretary and his ability to perform his duties.
