Yeah, but this is how things work at that level.

Microsoft can be abhorrent. They will always get the contracts. Why? Corporate welfare.

Microsoft will drive the rules. Why? Too big to fail.

Microsoft will push their slop. Why? Cause they have contractors after contractors in the federal government pushing MS solutions. Doesnt matter if they're bad.

And, who'd pay for a 3PAO audit of a Linux distro? Ubuntu and Redhat have. Its a $120k moat.