U.S. Treasury Secretary Disputes Commerce Chief Over Nvidia Security Designation

A dispute has emerged between two senior Trump administration officials regarding the classification of an Nvidia customer as a potential national security risk, according to multiple sources briefed on the matter.

Treasury Secretary Janet Bessent raised concerns with Commerce Secretary Marco Lutnick about the decision not to formally designate a particular Nvidia customer as a national security threat, sources said. The disagreement reflects broader tensions within the administration over how strictly to enforce export controls and national security designations related to semiconductor sales.

The identity of the Nvidia customer at the center of the dispute and the specific nature of the security concerns have not been disclosed. The incident underscores ongoing policy debates within the administration regarding technology restrictions, particularly around advanced semiconductor exports to entities that could pose strategic risks.

Bessent and Lutnick oversee different regulatory domains, with the Treasury Department handling financial sanctions and the Commerce Department managing export controls. Their disagreement signals potential friction in coordinating U.S. technology policy during a period of heightened scrutiny over semiconductor access by foreign entities.

The matter remains unresolved, with sources indicating the two officials have not yet reached agreement on the appropriate classification for the customer in question.