Reps. Torres and Nunn Call for National Security Review of iRobot Bankruptcy and Foreign Acquisition

Congressmen Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urging immediate national security review of iRobot’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring and proposed acquisition by a foreign supplier with ties to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The letter raises serious concerns about the transfer of control of iRobot to a Hong Kong subsidiary of Picea Robotics, a company that has received support from the PRC government. It warns that the transaction could give a PRC-linked entity access to highly sensitive data collected from millions of American homes, including detailed interior mapping information generated by iRobot’s consumer robotics products.Modern iRobot devices collect spatial data, movement patterns, and other information from inside American households. The letter emphasizes that under PRC national security laws, companies and subsidiaries can be compelled to share data with state intelligence services, creating significant risks to privacy, surveillance, and national security. The letter also highlights concerns about the transfer of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence technology with potential dual-use applications.“We cannot allow bankruptcy proceedings to become a back door for hostile foreign actors to gain access to sensitive American data and critical technology,” said Rep. Torres. “This transaction raises red flags that demand full scrutiny to protect national security and the privacy of American families.”“We cannot allow our bankruptcy system to become a backdoor for foreign adversaries to access sensitive U.S. technology and private household information,” said Rep. Nunn. “If Beijing learns that acquiring distressed American companies is easier than competing for innovation, we’ll see this playbook used again and again. The iRobot case is a test of whether we’re serious about protecting national security in the age of economic statecraft.”The letter formally requests that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States conduct a comprehensive review of the transaction and assess whether mitigation measures would be sufficient or whether the acquisition should be blocked entirely. It also requests a briefing on the status of the review by February 8, 2026.

A copy of the letter is attached as a PDF here.