The US Senate Banking Committee has asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and former Nvidia chief Jensen Huang to testify at a public hearing in December, as lawmakers examine the company’s sales of advanced chips to China and related national-security concerns.

Committee chairman Tim Scott said he would consider seeking a compulsory subpoena for Huang if he did not appear voluntarily. Lutnick’s spokeswoman, Kristen Eichamer, said the secretary had agreed to testify voluntarily. The sources do not report that a subpoena has been issued.

Why Lutnick is under scrutiny

The Commerce Department was tasked with assessing companies’ national-security risks before the Trump administration authorised Nvidia to sell advanced chips to China. That role has put Lutnick under scrutiny as lawmakers seek answers about the sales and the government’s oversight.

Huang resigned as Nvidia’s chief executive on November 12. He had supported selling chips to China, arguing that doing so would keep the country tied to US technology rather than encourage the development of systems that could compete with Nvidia globally.

Espionage allegations remain unresolved

The Senate request comes amid reports about Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman who worked for Megaspeed until 2023. US security agencies reportedly assessed that she may have been recruited by Chinese intelligence. The two are not related.

The allegations have not been established. The US Justice Department said it had not reached a conclusion on whether Alice Huang was a spy, and that the FBI was investigating reports that she worked for the Chinese government. Beijing denies that she is a spy.

Questions for the administration

Lawmakers have also sought to establish what the Trump administration knew about the relationship, and when. The scrutiny of Lutnick has widened beyond the committee’s request: Reuters reported, citing two people familiar with the matter, that senior White House officials were discussing whether he should be dismissed. A Trump administration official said President Donald Trump had full confidence in Lutnick and his ability to do his job.

Nvidia’s board has opened an independent inquiry, according to Estadão. Its outcome is not reported. The December hearing will add a public congressional forum to a dispute involving export controls, the company’s China business and allegations that remain under investigation.