Commerce Secretary Lutnick to Testify Amid Bipartisan Concerns Over Nvidia Export Issues

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he will voluntarily testify before the Senate Banking Committee after bipartisan pressure grew over export-control questions tied to Nvidia. The announcement follows letters from Senate Banking Committee chair Tim Scott, who asked Lutnick to appear on Dec. 10 and former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Dec. 3, citing recent reports that raise national-security concerns about the department’s role.

"Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the Banking Committee to address their questions," Lutnick spokesperson Kristen Eichamer told NBC News.

Senators from both parties have urged the testimony. Democrat Richard Blumenthal said Lutnick should appear voluntarily and warned a subpoena could be needed, while Republican Jim Banks called for an “ASAP” appearance, expressing worries that some chip exports may have conflicted with President Trump’s directives. Republican Kevin Cramer and Democrat Elizabeth Warren also urged Lutnick to testify, the latter demanding explanations for perceived export-control loopholes.

The White House defended Lutnick, stating the president retains full confidence in his ability to lead the Commerce Department. Earlier, Jensen Huang praised Lutnick’s engagement with the administration on AI technology.

House Foreign Affairs Committee members have also sought answers, with a letter from Democratic representatives demanding clarification on the Trump administration’s approval of advanced AI chip exports linked to China. Committee Chairman Brian Mast has asked Huang to meet lawmakers for a closed-door interview.

Some senators, including Thom Tillis, have pressed for an earlier hearing, suggesting Lutnick appear before the Thanksgiving break to provide facts before the upcoming congressional session.