Pentagon’s Foreign Engineer Access Poses Unseen National Security Risks

The revelation that foreign engineers, including those from China, have access to maintain key Department of Defense (DoD) systems should alarm every American invested in national sovereignty and security. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently acknowledged that the administration is moving swiftly to prohibit such access, validating concerns raised by Senator Tom Cotton about dangerous vulnerabilities within our military supply chains.

How Did We Let Foreign Adversaries Near Our Most Sensitive Systems?

In a letter to Sec. Hegseth, Senator Cotton highlighted a disturbing report that Microsoft employs Chinese engineers who maintain Pentagon systems — effectively opening America’s defense infrastructure to potential exploitation by hostile actors. The company’s reliance on so-called “digital escorts,” American personnel tasked with monitoring these foreign engineers’ activities, falls short of an effective safeguard. These escorts reportedly lack the technical expertise necessary to detect subtle but potentially catastrophic cyber threats.

This raises a sobering question: Why are we entrusting the integrity of our national defense systems to foreign nationals who might not share our commitment to freedom or the security of our country? Such lapses reflect systemic failures born from globalist outsourcing practices rather than America First principles prioritizing national control over critical technologies.

Protecting America Means Closing Loopholes Before It’s Too Late

The DoD’s acceptance — even partial — of foreign access undermines the very bedrock of American security: control over sensitive defense technologies. As adversaries like China intensify their efforts to penetrate U.S. defenses through cyber espionage and supply chain infiltration, Washington must stop tolerating policies that place profit or convenience above patriotism and safety.

Secretary Hegseth’s prompt response signals an overdue reckoning with these risks, but it begs the question: How long has this vulnerability persisted under previous administrations complacent about protecting military secrets? And how many more backdoors remain open because of corporate outsourcing decisions driven by bottom lines rather than security?

For American workers and families counting on a strong defense against foreign threats, this is about more than cybersecurity—it is about preserving national sovereignty against incremental erosion by globalist agendas. This issue underscores why American-made solutions and strict oversight aligned with America First values must guide future defense contracts and staffing decisions.

The message is clear: no foreign engineer—no matter their credentials or country—should be given direct maintenance or access rights to DoD systems handling classified or sensitive information. Protecting our nation requires vigilance at every level and an uncompromising stance on who touches our defenses.