Former US security officials join forces on ‘critical’ China contest bill

Senior members of former Democratic and Republican administrations call for quick passage of legislation to maintain hi-tech cutting edge

16 signatories on letter to Congress include one-time defence secretary Leon Panetta and CIA directors John Brennan, Michael Hayden

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Senior national security figures from previous US administrations have called on Congress to act quickly on technology funding legislation. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:52pm, 2 Feb 2022Updated: 2:30pm, 2 Feb 2022

More than a dozen former national security officials from Democratic and Republican administrations have written to Congress calling for a bipartisan approach to technology funding legislation, calling it “critical” if the country is to compete against China.

Former president Barack Obama’s defence secretary Leon Panetta and Stephen Hadley, national security adviser to George W. Bush, were among 16 signatories of a letter to Congress which said quick passage of the legislation would “ensure the US stays on the cutting edge of microelectronics”.

The Senate passed the US Innovation and Competition Act last year, including US$52 billion for the semiconductor industry and US$190 billion to strengthen US technology and research to compete with China.

The House of Representatives began considering its “America Competes” act this week. If it passes, the two chambers will have to resolve differences with the Senate bill.

“This is the time to prioritise comprehensive, bipartisan competitiveness legislation, which will ensure that federal investment matches our national security interests and allows the United States to maintain strengths and comparative advantages against rising adversaries,” the officials wrote.

The letter, dated February 1, was addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, as well as Republican House and Senate leaders Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell.