Rep. Boebert Pushes Bill to Ban Gov’t From Using Foreign Software to Store Sensitive Info: ‘Nation at risk’; Microsoft’s Greed Gives China Keys to Vital US Defense Systems

Rep. Boebert pushes bill to ban gov’t from using foreign software to store sensitive info: ‘Nation at risk’:

Firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) is pushing legislation to bar federal agencies from outsourcing some software services to foreign companies — over concerns about access to sensitive data, The Post has learned.

Boebert’s bill — dubbed the “Contracting with America First Act” — would apply when 500 or more government employees’ sensitive data are stored on the platform.

“For me, America first, just absolutely means putting American workers first and American companies first, and securing our government systems so that we’re not just reliant on other nations to do core functions,” Boebert told The Post during an interview.

“I think for too long that Washington has really outsourced critical government systems to foreign companies that have cost the American taxpayer billions of dollars and really put our nation at risk.”

Motivating the bill is Boebert’s concerns about the Pentagon’s business dealings with the German-based SAP cloud giant, including a $1 billion Army contract last year.

SAP is one of the most valuable tech firms in Europe and bills itself as “the world’s largest provider of enterprise software.”

However, in addition to being foreign-owned, Boebert charges that the software titan has failed to “deliver basic functions.”

“Foreign organizations like SAP have violated that law and charged our agencies billions of dollars in overages while failing to deliver basic functions,” the lawmaker said in a statement. “American companies can, and will, do better than criminal international companies like SAP.”

SAP and the Department of War declined to comment when contacted by The Post. --->READ MORE HERE

REUTERS

Microsoft’s greed gives China keys to vital US defense systems:

It’s a national betrayal: Microsoft, actively exploiting loopholes in federal guidance, has effectively handed Xi Jinping the keys to sensitive US defense systems — by using cheap Chinese labor to maintain them.

In July, for example, ProPublica reported that Microsoft has long employed engineers based in Communist China to maintain and support cloud systems used by the US Department of Defense.

Microsoft’s role as a trusted contractor for our federal government means this is not a routine cyber vulnerability, but a direct threat to our national security.

When China gains insight into Department of Defense systems — whether through direct system access, negligent cybersecurity practices or recklessly lax contracting policies — it isn’t just a hypothetical risk.

It gives the Chinese Communist Party the ability to map and disrupt US military operations, logistics networks, and critical infrastructure.

It allows Beijing to build comprehensive surveillance profiles on American servicemembers, government employees and private citizens, and to undermine our technological advantage by stealing proprietary information, research and defense innovations.

In short, it’s putting American lives at risk. --->READ MORE HERE

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