Microsoft has relied on engineers based in China for years to help maintain some of the U.S. Department of Defense’s

The move comes after a ProPublica report highlighted a Microsoft program that allows foreign engineers to indirectly interact with U.S. military systems through American “escort” intermediaries.

Microsoft has said it will stop using engineers based in China to provide technical assistance on the US military cloud, following an investigation by non-profit journalism outlet ProPublica. ProPublica reported that Microsoft was using engineers in China to help maintain the Defense Department's computer systems on July 15.