**U.S. Senator Seeks Clarity on Microsoft’s Use of Chinese Engineers in Military Cloud Systems**
A U.S. senator is pressing the Pentagon for further details regarding Microsoft’s reported employment of Chinese engineers to maintain military cloud computing systems. Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas and chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, addressed a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a recent investigative report by ProPublica.
The report highlighted that Microsoft has utilized Chinese engineers to work on U.S. military computing systems, supervised by U.S. “digital escorts” who are subcontractors with security clearances but often lack the technical expertise to evaluate potential cybersecurity risks posed by the Chinese personnel.
In response to inquiries from the media, Microsoft refrained from commenting on both the ProPublica report and Cotton’s letter. The tech giant, a significant contractor for the U.S. government, has previously faced breaches from both Chinese and Russian hackers. Microsoft stated to ProPublica that it had disclosed its operational practices to the U.S. government during an authorization process.
Cotton’s letter requested a comprehensive list of all contractors employing Chinese personnel and sought clarification on the training provided to U.S. digital escorts for identifying suspicious activities. He emphasized the critical nature of safeguarding against potential threats within the military supply chain, particularly those arising from subcontractors.
“The U.S. government acknowledges that China’s cyber capabilities represent one of the most aggressive and dangerous threats to the United States, as demonstrated by their infiltration of our critical infrastructure, telecommunications networks, and supply chains,” Cotton noted in his correspondence.
The Defense Department has yet to respond to requests for comment on this matter.
**FAQ**
**What concerns does Senator Cotton have regarding Microsoft’s practices?**
Senator Cotton is concerned that the use of Chinese engineers in maintaining U.S. military cloud systems could pose cybersecurity risks, especially given the lack of technical expertise among U.S. subcontractors supervising their work.