State Department's Helberg Pitches "Pax Silica" to House Foreign Affairs Panel as Tariff Tensions Loom

Why It Matters

The Trump administration is betting that commercial diplomacy and national security are inseparable—and it sent its point man to make the case. Under Secretary Jacob Helberg appeared as the sole witness before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on February 24, 2026, to defend the administration's flagship economic security initiative, Pax Silica, a coalition designed to lock allied nations into U.S.-led supply chains for critical minerals and AI technology. The hearing exposed a central tension: the administration is courting allies for economic partnerships while simultaneously alienating them with aggressive tariffs and territorial rhetoric toward Greenland and Canada.

The Big Picture

How Pax Silica Became the Administration's Centerpiece

The hearing followed a rapid-fire sequence of diplomatic moves. In early February, the U.S. unveiled FORGE—the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement—alongside coordinated price floors for critical minerals and 11 new bilateral agreements. Days before the hearing, Helberg was in New Delhi signing a U.S.-India AI joint statement.

The 2025 National Security Strategy provides the doctrinal backbone. It places "economic power, industrial capacity and sovereignty at the center of U.S. national security policy," treating tariffs, export controls, and industrial policy as core security tools rather than supporting considerations.

This House Foreign Affairs hearing in 2026 also came the same day the Senate Armed Services Committee held its own session on Rebuilding American Critical Minerals Supply Chains, and the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia examined Strengthening Export Control Enforcement. The coordinated scheduling signals that advancing national security through commercial diplomacy has become a priority across both chambers and both parties.

Helberg's background adds a layer of complexity. A former Democratic fundraiser turned Trump ally, he previously served as an advisor to Palantir Technologies. The Intercept reported that while on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, he "stokes fears in Congress of TikTok and China" while "his firm, Palantir, could profit from a Cold War." Read Sludge further reported he planned to retain hundreds of investments despite acknowledging a "heightened risk" of conflicts.

What They're Saying

Jacob Helberg's Pitch to Congress

In his opening remarks, Helberg framed the stakes in stark terms:

  • "The nation that controls the industrial foundation of artificial intelligence will lead the century."
  • "Economic security is national security."

He described his office as "a force multiplier, facilitating partnerships with the world's largest industrial companies." He outlined three pillars: protecting critical infrastructure, aligning market incentives and antidumping practices, and promoting a "pro-innovation approach to AI policy."

Helberg also made news on Middle East diplomacy. He told Jewish Insider that his recent trip brought Israel and Qatar under the same economic framework for the first time: "Shared supply chains are more important than shared ideologies."

Committee Dynamics

Chair Brian Mast (R-FL-21) opened the hearing by framing it around the State Department's progress in "putting American business and protecting American industry" at the center of diplomacy. The post-hearing summary noted bipartisan recognition that reforms are needed to enhance U.S. competitiveness in global markets.

Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY-5) and Democrats had ammunition on the contradiction between coalition-building and tariff aggression, as well as Helberg's retained tech investments.

Political Stakes

For Helberg and the Administration

This hearing was a showcase moment for Helberg, who has risen from a mid-level Google role to one of the administration's most consequential economic diplomacy positions in under five years. Forbes profiled his rapid ascent, raising questions about credential inflation. Success with Pax Silica could cement his reputation. Ethics scrutiny over his Palantir ties and retained investments could undermine it.

For the White House, the hearing tested whether Congress will buy the argument that U.S. trade and national security policy can simultaneously pursue allied coalitions and unilateral tariffs. The National Association of Manufacturers has called for a "clear and consistent framework for trade" and warned that broad tariffs on industrial inputs "would raise costs, disrupt manufacturing growth, and limit innovation."

For Vulnerable Members

Several committee members face competitive 2026 midterms. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) holds one of the tightest swing districts and benefits from appearing tough on China. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA-40) represents a district with deep tech industry ties, making AI and supply chain policy directly relevant to her constituents.

The Other Side

The Tariff Contradiction

Politico reported that Pax Silica is "facing an uncertain future given among European diplomats and Canada given Trump's rhetoric around tariffs and Greenland." The Diplomat's analysis noted the initiative "implicitly pulls members closer to the U.S. technological and security orbit, which can narrow room for maneuver vis-à-vis China"—a feature for Washington but a concern for partners seeking flexibility.

CSIS flagged another gap: the dismantlement of USAID swept away platforms that facilitated U.S.-Africa trade and investment, and Congress's failure to renew the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act created a hole in the commercial diplomacy toolkit.

Trivium China identified a notable omission: Taiwan is not a Pax Silica signatory, meaning TSMC—the world's most important chipmaker—is not formally part of the coalition.

What's Next

The committee signaled that oversight of economic statecraft will continue. FY2027 appropriations decisions will determine funding levels for critical minerals programs, including the $7.5 billion Congress previously appropriated to the Pentagon for supply chain investments. The National Defense Authorization Act process beginning this spring will incorporate findings from this and related hearings. Multiple critical minerals bills—including the Critical Minerals Supply Chain Resiliency Act and the SECURE Minerals Act of 2026—are moving through subcommittee markups.

The Bottom Line

The administration wants allies and tariffs at the same time. This hearing showed Congress is watching to see if that math works.

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