Russia, China target US federal employees for recruitment amid mass layoffs

Foreign intelligence agencies, including Russia and China, are actively recruiting recently fired or at-risk U.S. federal employees with national security roles, CNN reports. The effort aims to exploit the Trump administration’s planned mass layoffs across federal agencies, according to sources familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments and a reviewed document.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) document states that adversaries are targeting individuals with security clearances via LinkedIn, TikTok, RedNote, and Reddit. At least one foreign intelligence officer instructed an asset to create a LinkedIn job post to approach federal employees marked “open to work.”

These employees are at their most vulnerable right now, out of a job, bitter about being fired,” a source told CNN. Former National Security Council counterintelligence director Holden Triplett warned that employees who feel mistreated are historically more likely to disclose sensitive information.

The Justice Department has previously prosecuted former military and intelligence personnel for providing classified information to China. Meanwhile, Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu denied the allegations, calling them “groundless speculation.”

“China has always been committed to developing relations with the United States on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. We oppose groundless speculation on China without factual basis,” Pengyu said.

CIA officials have reportedly discussed the risk, but Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard dismissed concerns as politically motivated. She criticised intelligence officials for raising alarms, claiming their loyalty is questionable.

The Pentagon plans to cut over 5,000 probationary employees, and the CIA has already fired more than 20 officers. Some fear the agency may have inadvertently exposed undercover officers by sending a list of new hires over an unclassified network. The situation has raised concerns about potential security breaches and foreign recruitment efforts.