Washington, June 24: The presence of Chinese nationals in U.S. national laboratories has sparked intense debate in American politics. Two senior Republican senators are urging the Trump administration to take immediate action on this issue. They argue that this situation increases the risk of sensitive research, advanced technologies, and crucial national security information falling into Chinese hands.
Senators Tom Cotton from Arkansas and Mike Lee from Utah expressed their concerns in a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. They highlighted that despite long-standing worries about intellectual property theft and technology transfer, a significant number of Chinese citizens continue to work and conduct research in American national labs.
In their letter, the senators stated they are seriously concerned that the Energy Department is still granting access to Chinese nationals at national laboratories, where they collaborate with American scientists.
Citing Energy Department data, they noted that in fiscal year 2025, nearly 1,900 short-term visits were made by Chinese nationals. Additionally, around 1,300 long-term research appointments and approximately 2,100 formal employment positions involved Chinese citizens.
The senators also pointed out that during this period, Chinese nationals gained direct or remote access to various facilities within national laboratories over 5,000 times.
They argue that recent figures clearly indicate that this arrangement exposes the U.S. research system to foreign espionage and technology transfer risks, which could benefit rival nations.
The letter emphasized that China is America’s largest competitor in the race for emerging technologies. They accused China of attempting to surpass the U.S. by stealing American intellectual property and technologies. Despite documented evidence, Chinese scientists have been granted access to U.S. national laboratories for decades.
The senators questioned how the Energy Department’s security protocols consider China’s national intelligence laws, which they claim compel Chinese citizens to cooperate with Chinese intelligence agencies when necessary.
They also requested information on whether Chinese nationals are being granted access to controlled technologies, export-controlled technologies, or other sensitive research areas.
The lawmakers raised concerns about why Chinese nationals are still collaborating with American scientists, what measures are being taken to reduce remote access, whether the Energy Department plans to limit their participation in non-confidential research programs, and if any counterintelligence assessments have been conducted regarding the number of Chinese researchers in various laboratories.
In their letter, they stated that these figures are neither small nor ordinary. According to them, this situation exposes America’s national laboratories, the scientists working there, and their research topics to a rival nation that is trying to overtake the U.S.
In conclusion, the senators asserted that the Energy Department’s mission to protect national security and critical technologies cannot be fulfilled as long as thousands of Chinese nationals continue to gain access to national laboratories each year.
In January, Cotton, Lee, and nine other senators had also called for action from the Energy Department on this issue. Furthermore, in March 2025, they introduced the U.S. Technology Abuse Prevention Act (GATE Act), which aims to limit access to DOE laboratories for citizens of rival nations.
U.S. national laboratories conduct vital research in areas such as AI, advanced computing, energy systems, materials science, and nuclear security. They are considered a cornerstone of America’s technological edge and national security.
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