The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved $3 billion for U.S. telecom companies to remove Chinese telecom equipment from American wireless networks nationwide over mounting fears they are susceptible to cyberattacks.
The culling of gear from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE comes amid escalating concerns over the threat posed by Chinese state-linked hackers. In recent months, U.S. officials and lawmakers have outlined the dangers of two high-profile attacks: Volt Typhoon, which targeted U.S. critical infrastructure, and Salt Typhoon, a group allegedly responsible for widespread data theft from network traffic. U.S. officials acknowledged it has been difficult to eradicate Salt Typhoon organizers.
“China is the most dangerous threat facing our nation – the FY25 NDAA is laser-focused on deterring China and protecting our nation,” Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said this month. “The FY25 NDAA boosts funding for U.S. defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacific; supports the continued modernization of our nuclear deterrent; revitalizes our defense industrial base; and expedites the fielding of innovative technologies.”
Expelling Chinese telecom makers in the U.S. has been in the works dating to the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act in 2020.
The funding comes from the National Defense Authorization Act’s budget for 2025, which covers national security risks that include the U.S.’s crackdown on Chinese companies. The $3 billion is expected to close a gap after $1.9 billion was previously earmarked for removing insecure equipment. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pegs the amount necessary to purge Chinese telecom equipment at about $4.98 billion.
Earlier this month, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel asked Congress for more money. She said the shortfall “put[s] both our national security and the connectivity of rural consumers who depend on these networks at risk.”
