github mcp not present in non-interactive mode

[pelikhan]

Describe the bug

When running in github actions, the builtin GitHub MCP does not seem to load.

Affected version

0.0.230

Simple repro. When starting copilot in non-interactive mode (in a Codespace), the builtin github mcp is not started.

@pelikhan ➜ /workspaces/gh-aw (main) $ copilot -p "list tools available in your chat (not bash, not this project). list of tool ids only."
● Based on my available tools, here are the tool IDs:

   - `bash`
   - `write_bash`
   - `read_bash`
   - `stop_bash`
   - `str_replace_editor`

@pelikhan ➜ /workspaces/gh-aw (main) $ copilot
 Welcome to GitHub Copilot CLI
 Version 0.0.330 · Commit a8bfefe

 Copilot can write, test and debug code right from your terminal. Describe a 
 task to get started or enter ? for help. Copilot uses AI, check for mistakes.

 ● Connected to GitHub MCP Server

 ● Logged in with GITHUB_TOKEN as user: pelikhan

 ╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
 │ > list tools available in your chat (not bash, not this project). list of tool ids only                                                  │
 ╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

 ● Here are the tool IDs available in this chat:

   File Management:

     * str_replace_editor

   Shell/Command Execution:

     * bash
     * write_bash
     * read_bash
     * stop_bash

   GitHub API Tools:

     * github-mcp-server-download_workflow_run_artifact
     * github-mcp-server-get_code_scanning_alert
     * github-mcp-server-get_commit
...
 claude-sonnet-4 /workspaces/gh-aw [⎇ main]

---

Steps to reproduce the behavior

Add this github actions workflow:

on:
  workflow_dispatch:
  push:
    branches:
      - copilot*
permissions: {}
jobs:
  copilot:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: '22'
      - run: npm install -g @github/copilot
      - run: |
          copilot --prompt "List tools defined in the current chat session (do not run commands, I am asking about tools defined in the LLM). Just the names in a table, nothing else."
        env:
          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.COPILOT_CLI_TOKEN }}

Expected behavior

This prompt prints the tool available in the LLM:

List tools defined in the current chat session (do not run commands, I am asking about tools defined in the LLM). Just the names in a table, nothing else.

When running from a codespace,

Configured MCP servers: safe_outputs

 ● Logged in with GITHUB_TOKEN as user: pelikhan

 ● Connected to GitHub MCP Server

 ╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
 │ > List tools defined in the current chat session (do not run commands, I am asking about tools defined in the LLM). Just the names in a  │
 │   table, nothing else.                                                                                                                   │
 ╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

 ● ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
   │ Tool Name                                          │
   ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
   │ bash                                               │
   ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
   │ str_replace_editor                                 │
   ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
   │ github-mcp-server-download_workflow_run_artifact   │
   ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
   │ github-mcp-server-get_code_scanning_alert          │
   ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
   │ github-mcp-server-get_commit                       │
   ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
   │ github-mcp-server-get_file_contents                │
   ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
...

In an action, the tools are not present.

on:
  workflow_dispatch:
  push:
    branches:
      - copilot*
permissions: {}
jobs:
  copilot:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: '22'
      - run: npm install -g @github/copilot
      - run: |
          copilot --prompt "List tools defined in the current chat session (do not run commands, I am asking about tools defined in the LLM). Just the names in a table, nothing else."
        env:
          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.COPILOT_CLI_TOKEN }}

And the output here:

Run copilot --prompt "List tools defined in the current chat session (do not run commands, I am asking about tools defined in the LLM). Just the names in a table, nothing else."
● | Tool Name |
   |-----------|
   | bash |
   | write_bash |
   | read_bash |
   | stop_bash |
   | str_replace_editor |

Additional context

No response