Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and other technology executives are lobbying Congress to prevent new restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductors to China. The push comes as lawmakers consider safety and security provisions in the draft National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an annual defense policy package. While Nvidia seeks to maintain its global market access, some members of Congress are citing concerns about rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and national security risks to justify tighter controls.
The legislative debate follows recent warnings from technology leaders regarding AI development. The CEOs of three major tech firms recently stated that AI could eventually exceed human control, and a former researcher from the firm Anthropic warned of a 10 percent chance of catastrophic outcomes within a decade. These disclosures have prompted calls from some lawmakers, including Representatives Sam Liccardo (D-CA) and George Whitesides (D-CA), for immediate safety legislation. In contrast, Huang has downplayed these risks, suggesting that cybersecurity firms may have financial incentives to generate public concern.
Provisions currently under consideration in the Senate version of the NDAA include requirements for tracking exported chips and new authority for Congress to block exports of advanced AI chips to foreign adversaries. Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI), chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, stated that he supports a "rolling technical threshold" that allows sales to China without enabling exponential improvements in their capabilities. Meanwhile, Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) noted that Huang has argued that the U.S. benefits when the world relies on American-designed chips, a position Cruz said policymakers are still evaluating.
The conflict highlights a split between federal branches and legislative chambers. While President Donald Trump has expressed support for Nvidia and recently signed an executive order regarding voluntary national security reviews, some members of his own party in the Senate feel pressured to fill what they describe as a "vacuum" in export controls. If passed, the proposed restrictions would require coordination with allies on chip-making equipment exports, potentially altering international trade agreements.
What happens next depends on the timing of the NDAA and several pending AI bills. The House of Representatives is scheduled to take a recess through October, with the final defense bill likely to be negotiated after the midterm elections. A vote is expected soon on a separate bill regarding data center energy costs. Meanwhile, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for the industry to slow development and accept third-party observers, while other proposals, such as a "kill switch" for AI models introduced by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), remain under consideration in committee.