Pete Hegseth fights off major national security threat to the Pentagon
There are constant threats to America’s national security. Hegseth just rooted one out.
And Pete Hegseth has fought off a major national security threat to the Pentagon.
Pentagon Axes Microsoft’s “Digital Escort” Program Over National Security Fears
In a move to protect national security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the Pentagon has pulled the plug on Microsoft’s controversial “digital escort” program. Launched under a prior Democratic administration, this initiative permitted Chinese engineers, monitored by U.S. contractors, to work on highly sensitive Department of Defense (DoD) cloud systems. Alongside the program’s termination, the Pentagon has kicked off audits and investigations to gauge its potential damage to America’s security.
Hegseth, in a video statement, revealed the discovery of what he called “an Obama–Biden era legacy program called Digital escorts.” For nearly ten years, Microsoft relied on Chinese coders, with remote U.S. oversight, to handle critical defense cloud systems—a setup Hegseth slammed as an “unacceptable risk.”
“The use of Chinese nationals to service Department of Defense cloud environments — it’s over,” Hegseth declared. “We’ve issued a formal letter of concern to Microsoft documenting this breach of trust, and we’re requiring a third-party audit of Microsoft’s digital escort program, including the code and the submissions by Chinese nationals. This audit will be free of charge for U.S. taxpayers.”
The DoD is diving deep with two investigations: one dissecting the “digital escort” system itself and another probing the work of the Chinese engineers involved. The Pentagon has also ordered all contractors to root out and eliminate Chinese involvement in its systems going forward.
The program’s risks came into sharp focus in July after a ProPublica investigation revealed that Chinese engineers were passing code instructions through barely trained U.S. “escorts.” Critics raised alarms that this arrangement could have left some of the nation’s most sensitive military data vulnerable to being spied upon.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) pushed for a Pentagon probe, calling foreign access to DoD systems “deeply concerning.” Hegseth was in agreement, stating, “foreign engineers — from any country, including of course China — should NEVER be allowed to maintain or access DoD systems.”
Microsoft’s connections to China have long sparked unease. Its Research Asia division has partnered with Chinese universities tied to the People’s Liberation Army, and the company has faced heat for supplying AI tools to Chinese firms through its Azure platform, even though restrictions exist. Earlier in 2025, Microsoft vowed to quit using China-based engineers for Pentagon systems after reports exposed possible weak points.
“We expect vendors doing business with the Department of Defense to put U.S. national security ahead of profit maximization,” Hegseth said. “This never should have happened in the first place, but once we found out about it, we’ve attacked it aggressively from the beginning. We’re going to follow through to make sure this is addressed.”
The decision dovetails with the Trump administration’s push to limit Chinese influence in vital U.S. infrastructure. Just this month, President Trump called for tougher rules on tech firms linked to Beijing, while lawmakers continue to sound alarms about foreign sway over defense supply chains belonging to the United States.
China’s Economic Challenge to U.S. Dominance
China’s meteoric economic rise poses a serious threat to America’s global standing. As one of the world’s largest economies, China has harnessed its manufacturing might and vast domestic market to dominate global trade. By pouring subsidies into sectors like technology, semiconductors, and clean energy, China has gained a competitive edge, often through practices that critics say tilt the playing field against U.S. companies. Its grip on critical supply chains—think rare earth minerals and electronics—leaves American industries exposed to disruptions.
Through initiatives like the Belt and Road, China has extended its economic reach across Asia, Africa, and Europe, locking in trade routes and markets while creating dependency among partner nations. This expansion chips away at U.S. influence, as China’s investments often come with fewer strings than Western alternatives. Add to that concerns about intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers, and it’s clear why America’s edge in innovation-driven fields like AI and telecom is at risk.
China’s Growing Military Threat
Militarily, China’s rapid buildup of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) signals a direct challenge to U.S. dominance. The PLA’s advancements in cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, and hypersonic weapons show a clear intent to rival or even surpass American capabilities. China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea, paired with its expanding naval presence, threaten open navigation and stability in the Indo-Pacific—a vital region for U.S. allies and trade.
China’s investments in space and cyber domains also raise red flags, with the potential to disrupt U.S. satellite networks and critical infrastructure. The Pentagon has repeatedly warned that China’s cyber capabilities, as seen in cases like the “digital escort” program, could target defense systems.
With an increasingly sophisticated arsenal and an opaque military strategy, China’s actions demand constant U.S. vigilance to safeguard national security and maintain strategic superiority.
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