Trump reviewing 'war cloud' contract sought by Amazon

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Pentagon is reviewing the award process for a $10 billion digital cloud-computing contract being sought by Amazon following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump has complained that the process is allegedly biased in favor of Amazon, which owns the Washington Post, and whom Trump regularly rails against.

Recently-confirmed Defense Secretary Mark Esper is leading the review for the contract, known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI, plan. It was expected to be awarded to Microsoft or Amazon later this month, but is now likely to be delayed.

Multiple media reports confirmed Thursday that the review is underway.

The JEDI program would unify the hundreds of cloud services the Pentagon uses into a solitary cloud.

Trump said last month that the administration was receiving "tremendous complaints" from other companies who bid for the contract. Microsoft and Amazon are the last remaining contenders after IBM and Oracle were eliminated from the contest.

Oracle had previously launched a legal challenge alleging the process was rigged in Amazon's favor, but a federal judge dismissed it, according to The Associated Press.