U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to explain the department’s decision to roll back export controls and grant the United Arab Emirates license-free access to sensitive U.S. technology, including advanced artificial intelligence chips. The letter seeks information on the rationale and national security implications of the decision, as well as the potential influence of reported UAE investments in the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial cryptocurrency venture. Warren said the decision departs from the Bureau of Industry and Security’s historical practice of reserving enhanced trading relationships for countries that coordinate export controls. She cited reports that career staff warned of possible technology diversion to China and that UAE firms linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan invested hundreds of millions of dollars in World Liberty Financial in 2025. The letter says G42, the artificial intelligence company chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon, will now receive license-free access to advanced chips and other sensitive technology.
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs2026-08-05
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs ranking member seeks answers on license-free UAE access to sensitive technology
U.S. Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren asked the Commerce Department to explain its decision to grant the UAE license-free access to sensitive U.S. technology, including advanced artificial intelligence chips. She raised national security concerns and questioned whether reported UAE investments in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture influenced the decision.