Gottheimer sounds the alarm over China-linked company operating New Jersey E-ZPass
Calls for Transparency to Protect Jersey Drivers' Personal Data
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) on Tuesday sent a letter to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) raising serious concerns over the foreign ownership of TransCore, the company awarded a $1.73 billion contract to operate New Jersey’s E-ZPass system.
TransCore, which will have access to the personal data of millions of Jersey drivers, has alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“The Chinese Communist Party has made it abundantly clear that it is willing to leverage technology to undermine our national security and collect data on American citizens,” said Gottheimer, a member of the House Intelligence Committee. “With millions of Jersey drivers’ personal data stored in the E-ZPass system, the NJ Turnpike Authority must ensure that this information remains secure and does not fall into the hands of our greatest foreign adversary. We’ve seen China’s playbook before with TikTok and DeepSeek, and we cannot allow it to happen again.”
Background:
- The New Jersey Turnpike Authority awarded a $1.73 billion E-ZPass contract to TransCore to operate EZ-Pass services in the state.
- TransCore is owned by Singapore-based ST Engineering, which is ultimately controlled by Temasek Holdings, a firm with alleged ties to the CCP.
- Chinese law requires Chinese companies to comply with directives from the CCP, including orders to turn over data and sensitive information.
- If Transcore retains the contract, it will have direct access to the personal information of New Jersey drivers, including names, home addresses, license plate numbers, and contact information.
