US senator raise concerns over Microsoft’s use of Chinese engineers
U.S. Senator Tom Cotton has urged the Pentagon to clarify if Microsoft has utilized Chinese engineers to assist in maintaining military cloud computing systems, pointing to national security issues raised by a recent investigative report.In a communication to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Arkansas Republican—who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee and is a member of the Armed Services Committee—requested comprehensive details regarding Microsoft’s practices concerning contractors following a report by ProPublica.
The investigation indicated that Microsoft employed engineers located in China to work on sensitive military systems while being supervised by U.S. “digital escorts”—subcontractors with security clearance who allegedly lacked the necessary technical knowledge to spot cybersecurity threats.
Cotton called on the Department of Defense to furnish a complete list of contractors utilizing Chinese personnel and to clarify how digital escorts are trained to recognize potentially suspicious activities.
“The U.S. government acknowledges that China's cyber capabilities represent one of the most aggressive and significant threats to the United States,” Cotton stated. “The military must protect against all possible threats within its supply chain, including those posed by subcontractors.”
The company, which is a significant defense contractor in the U.S., has previously been targeted by hackers from both China and Russia.
Cotton’s inquiry underscores the increasing concerns in Washington regarding the participation of foreign engineers in U.S. defense systems amid broader anxieties about supply chain vulnerabilities and cyber espionage.
The senator’s letter adds additional pressure on the Pentagon to enhance oversight of technology contractors and subcontractors involved in crucial national security initiatives.
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