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14h ago

Pentagon Bars China-Based Engineers From Cloud Services as Senators Push Legal Ban

The Defense Department has launched a two-week audit of its cloud systems to ensure no unauthorized foreign access.

UNITED STATES - APRIL 30: Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., arrives for a vote in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Hegseth ordered the ban on July 18 following a ProPublica exposé that revealed China-based engineers were servicing Pentagon cloud systems with minimal U.S. supervision.
  • The department-wide review covers all digital networks to detect and eradicate similar security loopholes across defense systems.
  • Microsoft updated its U.S. Government cloud contracts this week to exclude China-based engineering teams from supporting DoD services.
  • Sen. Tom Cotton has filed an amendment to the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act that would permanently prohibit non-U.S. citizens from accessing Pentagon networks.
  • Senators Tom Cotton and Jeanne Shaheen have requested a Pentagon briefing by September 5 on cloud contract vulnerabilities and planned mitigation measures.