Tech firms in China are actively recruiting U.S. scientists recently laid off from federal research agencies due to President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting initiatives.
A social media campaign promoting Shenzhen, a city just outside of Hong Kong, as “one of China’s most concentrated cities for technological development” surfaced in February, coinciding with the layoffs of over 4,000 researchers from agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), according to multiple reports. Many of the employees fired from these agencies were probationary workers.
“Offer from China,” the ad reads. “Especially for talents who have been dismissed by the U.S. NIH or other universities/institutes. ‘Welcome global talents to pursue career development and entrepreneurship in #Shenzhen, #China.’” Most of the workers fired from these agencies were probationary employees, meaning they were undergoing a trial period in their positions.
“Propelled by the engine of innovation, Shenzhen drives technological advancement into tomorrow,” the ad continues. “Here, the passion for tech entrepreneurship burns bright … Here, boundless opportunities await … Here, open and inclusive spirit embraces the world.”
The recruiting effort has raised concerns on Capitol Hill over a potential brain drain to a key geopolitical rival.
“My staff have come across these ads on social media, and as far as we are aware, these are legitimate offers and are extremely concerning,” Democratic California Rep. Zoe Lofgren, ranking member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, told Politico.
Lofgren and other Democrats warned Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that staffing purges at NIST could “jeopardize our ability to compete with the People’s Republic of China” in a Feb. 25 letter.
“These firings may severely reduce the staff focused on AI measurement and standard setting … With the PRC substantially investing in both AI and international relationships, the U.S. government should be accelerating, not dismantling, its capacity for promoting both technological leadership and U.S. values,” the letter reads.
Trump introduced the “Stargate Project” in January, a $500 billion joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank, aiming to bolster American leadership in artificial intelligence. The initiative plans to build extensive AI infrastructure, including data centers across the country, as China gains a competitive edge in AI with models like DeepSeek’s R1.
So far, GOP leaders have been quiet on Chinese overtures to poach U.S. talent specifically. The offices of Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Republican Texas Rep. Brian Babin — who chairs the Senate Commerce and House Science Committees, respectively — did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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