Microsoft says it will no longer use engineers in China for Department of Defense work

Microsoft has announced a significant policy change, confirming it will no longer utilize China-based engineers for technical assistance related to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) cloud computing systems. This decision follows a recent investigative report by ProPublica that raised concerns about national security and data integrity.

The ProPublica report highlighted a system where China-based engineers were reportedly involved in maintaining sensitive DoD cloud infrastructure. To mitigate risks, this system supposedly relied on “digital escorts”—U.S. citizens with security clearances—who were tasked with supervising these engineers. However, the report pointed out a critical vulnerability: these escorts sometimes lacked the necessary technical expertise to adequately monitor the complex tasks performed by the engineers.

The revelations prompted a strong reaction from top defense officials. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth publicly stated on X, emphasizing the gravity of the situation: “Foreign engineers — from any country, including of course China — should NEVER be allowed to maintain or access DoD systems.” This underscored the Pentagon’s firm stance on safeguarding its critical information infrastructure from potential foreign access.

In direct response to these escalating concerns, Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft’s Chief Communications Officer, issued a statement on X. Shaw affirmed the company’s swift action, stating, “In response to concerns raised earlier this week about US-supervised foreign engineers, Microsoft has made changes to our support for US Government customers to assure that no China-based engineering teams are providing technical assistance for DoD Government cloud and related services.” This move aims to reassure the U.S. government and the public about the security protocols governing critical defense systems.

The policy shift by Microsoft marks a crucial development in the ongoing efforts to bolster cybersecurity within sensitive government operations. It reflects a proactive measure to address vulnerabilities and reinforce the integrity of national defense systems in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.