Summary....
- The House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved the "AI Overwatch Act" to grant Congress the power to block high-end AI chip exports.
- The move directly challenges President Trump’s decision to allow Nvidia’s advanced H200 chips to enter the Chinese market.
- Supporters argue the bill is vital for national security, while critics label it a "coup" against the President's "America First" strategy.
BlogSIA.eu.org — A fierce internal battle has erupted within the U.S. government as lawmakers move to reclaim authority over artificial intelligence exports, potentially overturning a high-profile decision by President Donald Trump.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday advanced legislation that would subject AI chip export licenses to rigorous Congressional oversight. The move signals a direct confrontation with the White House over the shipment of advanced processors to China.
Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) introduced the "AI Overwatch Act" in late 2025. The bill followed President Trump’s controversial move to greenlight the export of Nvidia’s H200 chips, which were previously restricted.
The H200 is currently ranked as Nvidia’s second-most powerful processor on the market. While it was long considered off-limits for Chinese buyers, the Trump administration softened its stance as 2025 drew to a close.
Under the proposed law, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Banking Committee would have 30 days to review and potentially veto any export licenses. This mechanism could effectively block the H200 shipments even with the President’s blessing.
The bill passed the committee stage with overwhelming support. Forty-two members voted in favor, while only two opposed and one remained neutral.
"If we were talking about playing games on an Xbox, Jensen Huang [Nvidia CEO] could sell as many chips as he wants to whoever he wants," Mast stated prior to the vote. "But this isn't about kids playing Halo on their TVs. This is about the future of military warfare."
The legislative push has faced a sharp backlash from White House AI Head David Sacks. Sacks recently amplified claims on social media that the bill is a coordinated effort by "Never Trumpers" to undermine the President’s executive authority.
Critics, including conservative activist Laura Loomer, have characterized the bill as "pro-China sabotage" masquerading as national security oversight. They allege that former staffers from previous administrations are influencing the movement.
However, the bill has found an ally in Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Amodei called the export of H200 chips to China a "massive mistake," comparing it to selling nuclear weapons to North Korea.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) dismissed the online criticism, suggesting that special interest groups profiting from the sales are funding a social media campaign against the bill.
The legislation now moves to the full House and Senate for further consideration. Both Nvidia and the White House have declined to comment on the ongoing legislative developments.
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Thanks for reading: US Lawmakers Advance Bill to Override Trump Approval of AI Chip Exports to China, Sorry, my English is bad:)