US Lawmakers Push to Expand Congressional Oversight of AI Chip Exports

The United States House Foreign Affairs Committee has voted overwhelmingly to advance legislation that would give Congress greater authority over exports of advanced artificial intelligence chips, intensifying a growing debate over national security, technological dominance and relations with rival nations.

The proposed measure, known as the AI Overwatch Act, was introduced in December by Representative Brian Mast, a Florida Republican who chairs the committee. The bill followed President Donald Trump’s approval of shipments of Nvidia’s powerful H200 AI chips to China, a decision that sparked concern among lawmakers worried about the military and strategic implications of such technology.

If enacted, the legislation would grant the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Banking Committee a 30-day window to review and potentially block export licences for advanced AI chips. The oversight would apply not only to China but also to other countries classified as adversaries, including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela.

The bill would also require the US Department of Commerce to provide lawmakers with detailed export applications demonstrating that the chips would not be used for military, intelligence or surveillance purposes by hostile governments.

Supporters argue that artificial intelligence chips now play a role comparable to traditional weapons systems. Speaking ahead of the committee vote, Mast said advanced semiconductors must be treated with the same seriousness as military hardware, warning that future warfare will be shaped by AI capabilities. Advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation echoed that view, stating that the legislation could slow China’s progress in developing advanced artificial intelligence systems that might rival those of the United States.

The proposal has faced strong resistance from the White House and its AI adviser, David Sacks, who has criticised the bill on social media. Last week, Sacks shared posts suggesting the legislation was being pushed by political opponents seeking to undermine the administration’s authority. The online criticism triggered a wave of attacks from conservative activists, some of whom labelled the bill harmful to US competitiveness.

Committee members rejected those claims, arguing that the opposition campaign was driven by special interest groups with financial stakes in chip exports. Representative Michael McCaul of Texas accused such groups of attempting to influence public opinion to protect profits at the expense of national security.

The legislation must still pass the full House and Senate before becoming law. Nvidia and the US Department of Commerce declined to comment on the proposal.

As global competition over artificial intelligence intensifies, the vote highlights Washington’s struggle to balance economic interests with security concerns, while defining how far Congress should go in controlling the technologies shaping future power and warfare.