Key facts
- U.S. lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to ban Americans from aiding Chinese and Russian civilian intelligence and security agencies.
- A 2018 law prohibits support to foreign military intelligence agencies but has loopholes for civilian organizations.
- Senators Ron Wyden and John Cornyn sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick highlighting these loopholes.
- The senators stated that foreign intelligence agencies can still legally hire U.S. consultants and purchase advanced surveillance and AI technology.
- The call for action precedes a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to prohibit American citizens and businesses from providing support to Chinese and Russian civilian intelligence and security agencies. This call comes as Congress seeks to close loopholes in existing legislation that could compromise U.S. national security.
A law passed in 2018 banned Americans from assisting foreign military intelligence agencies, but it did not extend to civilian-led organizations. Senators Ron Wyden and John Cornyn highlighted in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that these remaining loopholes allow foreign intelligence agencies to legally hire U.S. consultants and purchase advanced surveillance, cyber, and artificial intelligence technology for their operations.
The senators emphasized that such activities could be used to target Americans and undermine U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The letter, dated Tuesday, was not previously reported and arrives as bipartisan pressure mounts on the administration to adopt a more stringent approach toward China, particularly ahead of an anticipated visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Earlier this month, Republican Congressman John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on China, also called for measures to prevent chip manufacturers from supplying advanced logic chips to untrusted Chinese firms. The Trump administration's earlier decision to permit Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips to China has faced criticism from both parties.