Lawmakers in Washington are demanding Jensen Huang testimony after the former Nvidia chief executive resigned amid revelations that he had an extramarital relationship with a woman suspected of spying for China. The Senate Banking Committee gave Huang and United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick until December 3 to appear at a public hearing or face congressional subpoenas.
The move drags one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent figures and a sitting cabinet member into a joint national security inquiry. At the center of the dispute are claims that the Trump administration failed to monitor exports of advanced artificial intelligence semiconductors to Chinese buyers.
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For investors and policymakers alike, the stakes escalated immediately. Nvidia saw its market capitalization plunge below $4 trillion for the first time since July 2025 as the fallout rippled through the global tech sector.
Subpoena threats from Capitol Hill
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott issued the summons on Thursday, signaling that lawmakers are prepared to use legal force to compel appearances. Scott made clear that both men will be questioned under oath if they try to bypass the committee.
Recent reports raise serious concerns about our national security and the protection of sensitive U.S. technology.
Scott added that the American public deserves a full accounting of how advanced computing hardware flowed overseas. The committee wants to know whether export enforcement broke down at the federal level while Nvidia expanded its international sales.
The hearing scheduled for December 3 will examine internal communications between federal regulators and Nvidia executives. Lawmakers intend to question Lutnick on whether the executive branch gave preferential treatment to the chipmaker.
Espionage suspicions and an executive exit
Huang stepped down as chief executive earlier on Thursday following disclosures about his personal affairs. Federal investigators suspect one of the women involved was gathering intelligence on behalf of the Chinese government.
The revelation ignited immediate alarms across intelligence committees in Congress. Lawmakers fear that sensitive details about hardware architectures, supply chains and export strategies may have been compromised during the relationship.
President Donald Trump defended the former tech chief following the resignation, describing Huang as an honourable executive. Still, congressional leaders argue that personal praise cannot replace a formal investigation into potential security breaches.
Questions about political influence have grown alongside the inquiry. Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed alarm over reports that Nvidia directed a $25,000 donation to the Trump administration while seeking export guidance.
Scrutiny turns on Lutnick and Commerce export policy
The summons also brings Howard Lutnick directly into the crosshairs of lawmakers from both parties. Critics accuse his department of intentionally blunting trade restrictions meant to safeguard domestic technology.
Members of Congress allege that the Commerce Department refused to place dozens of Chinese firms onto an official trade blacklist. That decision allowed those companies to continue buying advanced processors despite intelligence warnings.
Congressional investigators want to know why those enforcement actions stalled. They plan to ask Lutnick whether economic considerations were allowed to override strategic technology safeguards.
The inquiry will also pull in senior regulatory officials. Lawmakers summoned Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on December 3 as well.
House committees line up Jensen Huang testimony
The Senate is not working alone. Three separate House panels are pursuing parallel investigations and have scheduled their own sessions for the first week of December.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast, China Select Committee Chair John Moolenaar, and House Intelligence Committee Chair Rick Crawford sent a joint demand to the company. They instructed Huang and Nvidia General Counsel Tim Teter to attend hearings on December 1 and December 2 or receive formal subpoenas.
In their joint letter, the three committee leaders stressed that urgent national security concerns require immediate public answers. The coordinated pressure ensures that Huang faces back-to-back days of questioning from multiple congressional panels.
The push for Jensen Huang testimony signals that House investigators want a complete record of internal corporate decisions. Lawmakers intend to cross-reference Teter’s legal records with Huang’s personal interactions and government filings.
The battle over China semiconductor controls
The escalating scandal has intensified calls across Capitol Hill for strict limits on all Nvidia chip exports and equipment sales to China. Lawmakers argue that existing loopholes leave the country vulnerable to foreign military advancements.
Beijing has rejected all espionage claims connected to the Nvidia controversy. Chinese officials accused Washington of using national security as an excuse to suppress foreign competitors.
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said Beijing firmly opposes the abuse of export restrictions. Chinese officials warned that tightening rules will destabilize international manufacturing networks and global supply chains.
Even so, congressional momentum is moving in the opposite direction. Lawmakers are drafting proposals to restrict shipments of semiconductor manufacturing equipment along with advanced processors.
Witnesses will face their first round of questioning when House panels convene on December 1, followed by the Senate Banking Committee hearing on December 3.
Source: Al Jazeera
