According to a Bloomberg report, lawmakers in Washington have intensified scrutiny on Futurewei Technologies, a subsidiary of Huawei, after discovering its long-running shared presence at Nvidia’s Silicon Valley campus.
The concern stems from fears that this arrangement may have provided China-linked Futurewei access to sensitive American semiconductor and artificial intelligence work.
A bipartisan letter from the House Select Committee on China has requested detailed documents and records, highlighting the potential risks associated with a blacklisted firm being co-located at one of the United States’ most critical technology hubs.
Shared site in Santa Clara under investigation
The investigation focuses on the discovery that Futurewei Technologies Inc. maintained the prime lease on three buildings at Nvidia’s Santa Clara headquarters for years before Nvidia acquired full control in 2024.
Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, a Republican, and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, detailed this in their letter to Futurewei, citing corporate filings that confirmed its status as a Huawei subsidiary.
Lawmakers argue that the proximity of Futurewei to Nvidia gave the company unusual access to advanced US research, hardware, and AI capabilities.
The letter described this arrangement as a potential channel for espionage. Concerns are heightened because Huawei has been blacklisted by the US government since 2019 due to national security risks.
Prior allegations raise further concerns
The committee letter also referenced a 2018 incident that raised red flags about Futurewei’s practices.
According to a complaint at the time, employees allegedly used fake American company identities to gain entry into a Facebook telecommunications summit after Huawei was barred.
This past behaviour, lawmakers suggest, amplifies worries about the company’s motives and its decision to establish operations next to a global leader in semiconductors.
The congressional request asks Futurewei to hand over all records tied to the Santa Clara site, including the selection process for the facility, documentation of interactions with Nvidia, and explanations of its activities there.
The committee has set a deadline of 28 September for these disclosures.
Nvidia and committee responses
An Nvidia spokesperson said the company keeps its offices and intellectual property protected and emphasised that, even when neighbours share nearby locations, Nvidia maintains its own secure campus.
The House committee itself declined to comment further beyond the letter and its associated press release.
Futurewei did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The company remains a central focus of American national security concerns due to its ownership by Huawei, which has faced restrictions not only in the US but across multiple Western markets.
Next steps and broader implications
The lawmakers’ probe reflects heightened vigilance over possible Chinese technology infiltration at a time when semiconductors and AI are at the centre of strategic competition.
By demanding full disclosure of Futurewei’s activities, US officials aim to determine whether its presence alongside Nvidia presented security risks.
The issue also highlights how real estate and office co-location in Silicon Valley can complicate national security enforcement.
With technology firms often leasing shared or neighbouring spaces, lawmakers are likely to push for stricter oversight on who occupies strategic tech campuses.
The outcome of the committee’s request, due later this month, could shape future policy on foreign subsidiaries operating in proximity to sensitive US firms.
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