Microsoft halts China-based tech support for Pentagon systems
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth confirmed that work on Defense Department cloud services had been outsourced to people in China, insisting that the country will not have "any involvement whatsoever" with the department's systems going forward.
"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," the company's chief communications officer, Frank Shaw, said in a post on X.
ProPublica reported Tuesday that the tech giant was using engineers based in China -- Washington's primary military rival -- to maintain Pentagon computer systems, with only limited supervision by US personnel who often lacked the necessary expertise to do the job effectively.
US Senator Tom Cotton asked Hegseth to look into the matter in a letter dated Thursday, and the Pentagon chief responded that he would do so.
Hegseth then posted a video on X Friday evening in which he said "it turns out that some tech companies have been using cheap Chinese labor to assist with DoD cloud services. This is obviously unacceptable, especially in today's digital threat environment."
"At my direction, the department will... initiate -- as fast as we can -- a two-week review, or faster, to make sure that what we uncovered isn't happening anywhere else across the DoD," he said.
"We will continue to monitor and counter all threats to our military infrastructure and online networks," he added, thanking "all those Americans out there in the media and elsewhere who raised this issue to our attention so we could address it."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
23 minutes ago
- India.com
China Triggers Alarm With 1,000 KM Range Air-To-Air Hypersonic Missile; Who Should Be Worried?
Beijing: China has reportedly tested an air-to-air missile capable of striking aerial targets at a distance of up to 1,000 kilometres. It has sent ripples across the global defense community. If accurate, the test could signal a fundamental shift in modern air combat strategy. It will potentially allow fighter jets to neutralise enemy aircraft long before they even come into radar range. The development was first reported by South China Morning Post, citing Chinese military sources. According to the report, the missile reaches speeds beyond Mach 5. It has placed it in the hypersonic category. It is designed to intercept high-value aerial targets, including stealth fighters and surveillance aircraft. Chinese engineers are said to be working on this new system with the aim of providing long-range superiority across contested airspaces. Still unnamed publicly, the project may allow China to target aircraft such as the U.S. F-22 Raptor, F-35 stealth fighters and the B-21 Raider well before they enter engagement range. Missiles of this class are typically referred to as Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missiles. They form a critical part of next-generation aerial warfare. Until now, the longest-range BVR missiles in service globally include Russia's R-37M and the U.S. AIM-174B. Both are capable of reaching distances around 350-400 kilometres. Presently under development, India's Astra Mk-3 is expected to match that range once deployed. However, a 1,000-kilometre air-to-air missile would outclass all existing systems. Experts say that if China's claims are validated, the development could force countries like India, Japan, Taiwan and even the United States to re-evaluate their air combat doctrines. No matter how stealthy, no fighter jet could escape a missile launched from that distance. The implications are serious, assuming tracking and targeting systems remain precise. Historically, air-to-air missiles have evolved from short-range weapons introduced in the 1950s, such as the U.S. AIM-9 Sidewinder and the Soviet K-series, to the BVR missiles of today. The modern battlefield increasingly depends on aerial platforms like AWACS and AEW&CS for surveillance and coordination. A missile capable of striking these assets from such vast ranges could potentially change the outcome of future conflicts before they even escalate. India, which currently fields the Astra Mk-1 and is working on Astra Mk-2 and Mk-3, faces a widening gap in this segment. While the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made consistent progress, there are calls within India's strategic community to accelerate indigenous hypersonic missile development. In addition, India may need to invest more heavily in advanced radar systems and tracking sensors, potentially through ISRO-DRDO collaboration, to detect and respond to threats launched from long distances at high speeds. As per the latest assessments, India's current missile capabilities are limited to around 400 kilometres in range. While the Chinese claim has not yet been independently verified, military analysts suggest it would be prudent for India to consider the scenario as credible and prepare accordingly. The development comes at a time when tensions remain high in East Asia, particularly around Taiwan and the South China Sea. If China's new missile enters operational service, it could give the country significant leverage across the region, including air dominance over key hotspots. Though the precise operational status of the missile remains unclear, the signal from Beijing is loud enough. Nations dependent on legacy BVR systems now face pressure to catch up, both in terms of range and speed, before the skies become inaccessible.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Lokesh urges NRIs to be partner in AP's development
1 2 Vijayawada: HRD and IT minister Nara Lokesh called upon the Singapore-based Telugu diaspora to promote investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh. He described Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) as Most-Reliable Indians (MRIs) as their role in the development of the homeland is significant. Speaking at the Telugu diaspora meeting organised by APNRT in Singapore on Sunday, Minister Lokesh emphasised that foreign investments are crucial to India's economy. He said that India received a total of Rs 6.73 lakh crore in foreign direct investments during the 2024-25 fiscal year, with approximately Rs 1.24 lakh crore coming from Singapore. He said that this accounts for 19% of the total FDI. "The global trust in Chandrababu Naidu is our investment. CBN (Chandrababu Naidu) is our brand. Let's promote the opportunities in our state to attract investments," Lokesh urged. Lokesh lauded the Telugu community's influence abroad, stating that NRIs are India's brand ambassadors. He urged all NRIs to partner in the state's development. "If a significant portion of the investments come to Andhra Pradesh, our state will become another Singapore," said Lokesh. He also praised the Telugu people for their resilience and support during challenging times, including the recent Pahalgam attack where a state soldier was martyred. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Esperanza Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Reflecting on the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew, Lokesh remarked, "One of my favourite and inspiring leaders is Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed a small fishing village into a global economic powerhouse during his 31 years as Prime Minister." He encouraged NRIs to leverage their expertise and invest in Andhra Pradesh's burgeoning sectors, highlighting the state's extensive coastline, infrastructure, and emerging Quantum Valley as key attractions. Lokesh outlined the state's commitment to creating 20 lakh jobs through new industrial policies and skill development programmes aimed at harnessing global opportunities. "We are implementing new industrial policies, taking Singapore as a role model for the speed of doing business. Our Andhra Pradesh state has immense resources," he added. The minister also announced the launch of APNRT 2.0, aimed at providing enhanced support to NRIs. He called for collective efforts to achieve a healthy, prosperous, and happy Andhra Pradesh, reinforcing the vision of a double-engine govt working under the leadership of Narendra Modi at the centre and Chandrababu Naidu in the state.
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
Rebate checks coming to bank accounts of millions - Trump floats payouts to Americans amid Epstein fallout
US President Donald Trump is trying to change the story as the Epstein scandal continues to loom large. The move seems to have been timed to take the public's attention away from the renewed interest in his past ties to Epstein. Donald Trump has hinted that he might send Americans rebate checks that would be paid for by higher tariff revenue. The announcement comes at a time when people are once again talking about Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Trump is trying to shift the focus to economic gains while staying away from the ongoing Epstein fallout. Trump suggested cash relief while promoting his most recent trade agreements on Friday, after saying that "people should really focus on how well the country is doing" instead of his ties to the deceased child trafficker, as per a report by the Daily Beast. At the White House, he told reporters, "We're thinking about that actually—we have so much money coming in, we're thinking about a little rebate.' 'We have so much money coming in from tariffs that a little rebate for people of a certain income level might be very nice.' He is doing this by collecting more than $100 billion in tariffs. According to U.S. Treasury data, tariff revenue topped $100 billion for the first time this fiscal year, indicating that the Trump administration's policies have resulted in higher levies. ALSO READ: National chicken finger day: Here's how to get a free chicken finger this July 27 The U.S. government could receive $2.8 trillion in tariff revenue over the next ten years, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who stated on Tuesday that he anticipates the growth to the administration has previously suggested a rebate, Trump's remarks come as he tries to shift the public's attention away from the Epstein scandal and toward more conventional GOP areas of strength, like immigration and the economy, as per a areport by the Daily despite efforts to calm the situation, it appears to be getting worse in battleground states that will be crucial for the midterm elections next year as well as in Washington, where House Republicans joined Democrats on Wednesday to vote on the release of the Epstein GOP consultant Christopher Nicholas told The Daily Beast, "It's resonating in the'real world,' as you might say, only because it's pretty obvious that no one knows what they're doing about it."Additionally, issues of this nature simply cut across traditional partisan divides. Everyone in society agrees that child abuse is horrible and wrong, and it appears that this case has been handled badly from the announcement, however, didn't happen in a vacuum. It followed days of escalating attention on Trump's past relationship with Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal trafficking Trump has long denied any close connection to Epstein, his comments Friday made it clear he's feeling the heat. According to Trump, the public ought to concentrate on Epstein's other associates, citing former Harvard president and Treasury Secretary Larry Summers as well as former President Bill Clinton. He even offered to give a "list" of individuals to examine, claiming that it would include "hedge fund guys" who shared a residence with as the 2026 midterms get closer, Trump seems eager to get more support from voters with lower and middle incomes. He is relying on a promise of real financial help, along with claims of being a good economic steward, to protect himself from a scandal that won't go rebate plan is still just that: a plan. But the timing, tone, and purpose of his actions show that Trump knows exactly what kind of political storm he's trying to avoid. Whether Americans believe the economic pitch or want more information about Epstein is a question that could shape the next few months. Who would be eligible for Trump's proposed rebate checks?Trump suggested that they could target people with specific income levels, but he did not elaborate. Is this the first time President Trump has mentioned tariff rebates? No, but it's the first time he's mentioned it in light of the growing controversy surrounding Epstein's ties.
