Pentagon Scrutinizes Microsoft’s Use of Chinese Engineers

Defense Secretary Pete Hegses mentioned that the Pentagon is currently reviewing a cloud computing program operated by Microsoft, which allegedly employs engineers from China.

A report by ProPublica published on Tuesday accused Microsoft of allowing personnel based in China to assist with the Pentagon’s cloud system. It claimed there weren’t enough safety measures in place regarding government contracts involving foreign workers.

In response, Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas sent a letter to Hegses on Thursday, requesting details about the program. He asked for a summary of all Department of Defense contractors that utilize Chinese workers, including a roster of subcontractors who employ Microsoft’s U.S.-born “digital escorts” tasked with overseeing the foreign staff.

“Given the recent revelations about Microsoft using Chinese engineers for maintaining DOD systems, I urged the Secretary of Defense to investigate the matter,” Cotton wrote on X. “It’s crucial to eliminate all threats within the military supply chain.”

Temu Faces Legal Action Over Data Access Allegations

Hours after Cotton’s post, Hegses replied positively, saying, “I fully concur.” He indicated that the Pentagon is looking into the situation urgently, affirming that no foreign entity, including China, should have access to DOD systems.

The ProPublica article cited insights from current and former employees as well as government contractors connected to Microsoft’s cloud service since 2016. This initiative aims to comply with federal contracts, focusing on developing security buffers for working alongside government computing systems by using “digital escorts” to supervise foreign cybersecurity personnel, including those from China. The DOD mandates that anyone handling sensitive information must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Criticism Over Digital Escort Hiring Practices

Some sources familiar with the “digital escort” hiring process revealed that often, ex-service personnel are hired for their security clearance rather than technical expertise, which may lead to gaps in the necessary skills to evaluate the work of supervising engineers. Additionally, Chinese laws compel individuals to collaborate on data collection efforts.

“If the ProPublica report holds true, Microsoft has created a national embarrassment that endangers our military personnel. The responsible individuals should face prison time, and Congress should initiate extensive investigations to uncover the potential compromises,” stated Lucci, CEO of State Armor Action, a conservative organization focused on addressing security threats.

“Those who provide Microsoft or China with access to Pentagon secrets should be viewed with suspicion,” he added.

Microsoft Defends Its Practices

A representative from Microsoft defended the “digital escort” model, emphasizing that all personnel with privileged access undergo federally mandated background checks.