Democratic lawmakers are criticizing the Trump administration for halting technology security actions targeting Chinese companies, calling it a threat to national security. The pause includes suspending bans on China Telecom operations and TP-Link router sales in the U.S.
Congressional Democrats are condemning the Trump administration’s decision to halt several technology security initiatives targeting Chinese companies, arguing the move puts national security at risk to maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.
In correspondence delivered Monday to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Democratic representatives questioned the administration’s choice to suspend restrictions on China Telecom’s domestic operations and proposed prohibitions on TP-Link router sales within the United States. The letter also addressed halted bans concerning the American internet operations of China Unicom and China Mobile.
“The Administration’s actions suggest a troubling pattern of sacrificing America’s national and economic security to stabilize relations with China and resolve the trade war the President himself started,” wrote Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, alongside Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who serves as the ranking Democrat on the committee’s South and Central Asia Subcommittee.
The Democratic legislators requested that Lutnick provide committee briefings regarding any national security evaluations conducted by his department concerning these decisions. They also sought confirmation about reports suggesting the office responsible for examining foreign technology risks was directed to shift focus away from China-related threats.
Neither the Commerce Department nor China’s Washington embassy provided immediate responses when contacted for comment.
This correspondence represents part of mounting Democratic criticism suggesting the Trump administration is pulling back on actions that might provoke Beijing, following a trade agreement reached between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Trump last October.
The concerns come as Trump prepares for a significant diplomatic visit to China scheduled from March 31 through April 2, marking a crucial meeting between the leaders of the world’s largest economies.
Additional suspended measures reportedly included restrictions that would have prevented Chinese electric vehicle sales in America and banned Chinese equipment purchases for domestic data centers.
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