Sen Rubio Appointment as Acting Chairman of Intelligence Committee Could Mean More Trouble for Tech and Telecom Giants With Ties to China

Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) appointment as acting chairman of the Intelligence Committee could mean more trouble for tech and telecommunication companies with ties to China. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced Sen Rubio’s appointment in the absence of Sen Richard Burr (R-NC), who temporarily stepped down from the top spot while the FBI is investigating his stock trades. Sen Rubio’s hawkishness on China has extended to 5G matters and an aggressive stance toward Chinese telecom giant Huawei, one that has often aligned him with Senate Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Mark Warner (D-VA).Sens Rubio and Warner were among the first lawmakers to meet with rural telecom carriers in 2019 and call for congressional funding to rip out and replace their Huawei gear.