Democrats Open Inquiry Into Nvidia’s China Chip Sales as Jensen Huang Agrees to Testify

TL;DR

• Rep. Richard Neal and Sen. Ron Wyden opened an inquiry into how the Trump administration handled Nvidia’s chip exports to China.
• The lawmakers asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to preserve records related to H200 export licenses and an arrangement that gave the U.S. government a share of chip sales.
• The letter questions why Singapore-based Megaspeed was reportedly allowed to keep buying Nvidia chips after U.S. officials raised intelligence concerns.

Congressional Democrats opened an inquiry Thursday into the Trump administration’s handling of Nvidia’s chip sales to China. The request came the same day Jensen Huang stepped down as CEO of the company he founded and agreed to testify in a separate congressional inquiry.

Democrats seek records on H200 export licenses

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts and Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon asked the department to preserve records related to Nvidia’s H200 exports. The lawmakers questioned an arrangement under which chips manufactured in Taiwan would first be shipped to the United States before being exported to China. They argued that the charge imposed when the chips entered the U.S. effectively amounted to an unconstitutional export tax.

The Associated Press previously reported that Nvidia and AMD agreed in August 2025 to give the U.S. government 15% of revenue from certain chip sales to China as part of a deal to secure export licenses.

Neal and Wyden also asked why the department reportedly continued to allow Megaspeed, a Singapore-based Nvidia customer, to buy chips after Lutnick was reportedly briefed on intelligence concerns involving one of its executives. Their letter seeks records on approvals for other Asian buyers that reportedly had no physical presence at their listed addresses. It also asks whether Nvidia’s reported $26 million in donations to Trump-backed projects, including the White House ballroom, played a role in export decisions.

Huang agrees to testify in a separate House inquiry

Huang publicly acknowledged an extramarital affair on Sunday without naming the other person. Media reports have linked him to former Megaspeed executive Alice Huang, citing a memo that alleged Chinese intelligence recruited her to spy on him. U.S. officials also reportedly suspected Megaspeed of helping route advanced Nvidia chips into China.

The Republican-led inquiry involves leaders from the House committees on China, foreign affairs, and intelligence. They had threatened to subpoena Huang if he declined to appear voluntarily. He agreed Thursday to testify in a closed-door session.