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Commerce Ousts ICTS Chief as China-Tech Rules Stall

BIS says new leadership will sustain the office's national security work.

Overview

  • Elizabeth 'Liz' Cannon resigned under pressure as head of the Commerce Department’s ICTS office, with her last day expected Feb. 20, following the recent administrative leave and exit of a deputy.
  • Sources say she would have been reassigned and that the administration plans to install a political appointee to lead the office.
  • ICTS, created in 2022, led a 2025 rule that effectively barred internet-connected passenger vehicles with links to China or Russia from the U.S. market.
  • Other actions have slowed, including the withdrawal of a proposed restriction on Chinese drones and the absence of a signaled rule on China- and Russia-linked heavy trucks and buses.
  • A BIS spokesperson said the bureau remains committed to using ICTS authorities to address foreign technology risks, as reporting ties the slowdown to a broader pause in punitive China measures during renewed trade engagement.