Advanced U.S. chips. UAE deals. Crypto links. Washington’s ethics watchdog is now being pulled into the spotlight.
Two senior figures tied to the Trump administration could face an ethics probe over their involvement in a controversial decision to allow the export of advanced U.S.-made semiconductor chips to the United Arab Emirates, according to correspondence reviewed by Semafor.
The U.S. Department of State Inspector General has confirmed it is evaluating a request from Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Elissa Slotkin to investigate whether Trump advisers Steve Witkoff and David Sacks violated federal ethics rules.
At the center of the request is the role both men reportedly played in approving exports of advanced U.S. chips to the United Arab Emirates, a decision with significant national security and economic implications. The senators raised concerns after reports indicated that Witkoff and Sacks have financial ties to the UAE through cryptocurrency-related ventures, potentially creating conflicts of interest.
“The office owes Congress a full investigation,” Warren said in a statement, arguing that lawmakers need clarity as they debate new ethics guardrails for cryptocurrency and emerging technology legislation. She warned that undisclosed financial interests could undermine confidence in policy decisions involving strategic technologies.
Slotkin went further, calling for any findings from a potential inspector general review to be made public. “The public deserves to know the motivations of senior officials making international deals in their name,” she said. “Our national security should never be for sale.”
The State Department’s inspector general confirmed receipt of the request but declined to comment on “investigative matters,” a standard position while reviews are under consideration. The White House, which has previously stated that the officials complied with ethics requirements, did not respond to requests for comment.
The episode comes amid heightened scrutiny in Washington over the intersection of national security, advanced technology exports, and the growing influence of cryptocurrency and private financial interests. Advanced semiconductor chips are tightly controlled because of their potential military and intelligence applications, making any perceived conflict of interest especially sensitive.
While it remains unclear whether the inspector general will formally open an investigation, the review itself signals rising pressure on the Trump administration’s inner circle. For lawmakers pushing tougher ethics standards, the case could become a test of whether existing safeguards are sufficient—or whether new rules are needed as geopolitical competition, technology, and private capital increasingly collide.
