A Singapore-based company with ties to China has been awarded a $1.73 billion contract to operate the E-ZPass system on the New Jersey Turnpike, despite its bid being $250 million higher than the American firm that previously held the contract for over two decades. The decision has raised national security concerns, as the company’s parent entity, Temasek Holdings, has documented connections to Chinese Communist Party-linked officials.

Former Senator Robert Torricelli has warned that allowing a foreign-owned company to manage the tolling system could lead to sensitive data—including addresses, credit card details, and vehicle movements of government officials and military transports—falling into the hands of foreign adversaries.

Critics argue that this deal poses a more serious threat than TikTok, highlighting the risks of exposing critical infrastructure to foreign influence. Conduent, the American company that lost the bid, has filed an appeal, questioning why a foreign firm was selected at a higher cost despite security risks.