White House considers removing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over China chip exports
Discussions regarding Lutnick's removal follow criticism over US technology controls and controversies involving Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang.
The White House is considering whether to remove Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick from his post due to criticism regarding his management of US export controls to China, according to a Reuters report cited by the Times of India on Thursday.
Senior White House officials have held discussions about Lutnick's position as lawmakers question why the Commerce Department has not blocked the transfer of high-end US technology to Chinese firms identified as national security threats.
The scrutiny follows the resignation of Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang as CEO on Thursday. Reports surfaced regarding Huang's alleged relationships with women, including Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman whom US authorities suspect of having ties to Beijing's intelligence services.
Lutnick has also faced criticism following an Axios report alleging he spent the last year reversing efforts to hold Megaspeed accountable for the suspected illegal diversion of US chips to China. During a meeting after the US midterm elections, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly confronted Lutnick about not placing Megaspeed on the Entity List, though the Commerce Department denied the confrontation occurred.
Republican Senator John Kennedy said Lutnick would be called before Congress, describing the situation as being as serious as an aneurysm. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren also demanded that Lutnick and Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler explain why export control loopholes have not been closed.
A White House official stated on Thursday that President Donald Trump maintains complete confidence in Lutnick. Trump noted he spoke to Huang on Wednesday but said he was unsure if Alice Huang's status as a spy had been established.