A man checks his phone while standing near the Microsoft logo at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. (REUTERS/Albert Gea, File Photo)
Microsoft has decided to stop using engineers based in China to support U.S. military projects after rising concerns over potential security risks. This shift follows a detailed report from investigative news site ProPublica, which raised red flags about foreign workers having access to sensitive military cloud computing systems.
The ProPublica report explained how Chinese engineers were involved in maintaining these systems. Although these engineers worked under the supervision of U.S.-based “digital escorts” with security clearances, many of these escorts reportedly lacked the technical expertise to detect cybersecurity threats.
These revelations prompted a swift response from U.S. officials. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a Republican who chairs the Senate’s intelligence committee and sits on the armed services panel, immediately wrote to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. In his letter, he demanded a complete list of contractors working with Chinese personnel. He also asked for clarity on how these digital escorts are trained to monitor potential suspicious behaviour.
Cotton stressed that the U.S. can’t afford to be lenient. He highlighted how China's cyber operations have repeatedly breached U.S. infrastructure, supply chains, and communication systems. According to him, the U.S. military must remain extremely cautious, especially with subcontractors who might unknowingly pose a threat.
Microsoft, which has been a long-standing contractor for the U.S. government, acknowledged its prior involvement. The company stated that it had informed U.S. officials about its use of foreign-based engineers during the project approval process. But the news triggered public outcry and political pressure.
To address the backlash, Microsoft’s spokesperson Frank Shaw shared a statement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He confirmed that Microsoft had now revised its policies and would ensure that no engineers based in China would offer technical support for Pentagon-related services going forward.
Following the controversy, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also took immediate action. In a video message posted on X, he said the Department of Defence is launching a full-scale, two-week review of all its cloud service contracts to ensure no China-based personnel are involved.
“Effective immediately, China will no longer be part of any of our military’s cloud services,” Hegseth declared firmly. He added that the Defence Department will continue to watch closely for any potential threats to its systems and online infrastructure.
This move marks a significant shift in how the U.S. government and its contractors handle national security in the digital space. With rising cyberattacks linked to foreign entities, Washington is tightening control over who gets access to its most critical systems.
