Concerns are growing over President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s push to restructure the federal government, leading to the forced departure of thousands of employees with critical knowledge and connections.
National security experts warn that as Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dismantles agencies, adversaries like Russia and China see a prime opportunity to recruit informants.
Former federal employees with access to sensitive information are now potential targets. The mass layoffs create an increased counterespionage risk for the United States.
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“This type of information is highly valuable,” said Theresa Payton, a former White House chief information officer under President George W. Bush in an AP report. “It’s no surprise that foreign governments and even criminal organizations would aggressively pursue these individuals.”
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Typically, over 100,000 federal employees leave their jobs annually, whether by retirement or career changes. However, the current exodus within just a few months is unprecedented.
Beyond intelligence officers, other government employees pose security risks. Many agencies hold vast amounts of data, including personal information on Americans, national security details, and classified government operations. Exiting employees could unintentionally or deliberately expose security vulnerabilities.
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Departments like the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Pentagon, and the Department of Energy oversee highly classified information, from trade negotiations to nuclear secrets. Any breach could have devastating consequences.
“This kind of thing happens even in normal times—someone with inside knowledge decides to sell out the country,” said John Schindler, a former counterintelligence official. “But DOGE is taking the risk to another level.”
“The question isn’t if someone will go rogue,” he added. “It’s how bad the fallout will be.”
Historically, only a small fraction of federal employees have been accused of espionage. The vast majority are patriots who remain committed to safeguarding national security.
To mitigate the threat, background checks, employee training, and exit interviews serve as barriers against potential informants. These measures remind departing employees of their obligation to protect classified information even after leaving government service.
However, it only takes one compromised individual to cause irreparable harm. Past cases, such as former FBI agent Robert Hanssen and ex-CIA officer Aldrich Ames, illustrate the damage a single informant can inflict.
Hanssen’s betrayal exposed American intelligence-gathering operations, leading to the execution of U.S. informants in Russia.
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The likelihood of a disgruntled former employee reaching out to a foreign power increases when large numbers of workers are suddenly jobless. Intelligence agencies worldwide are actively searching for those willing to provide strategic advantages.
“It’s a numbers game,” said Schindler.
Retired senior FBI official Frank Montoya Jr. expressed less concern about seasoned intelligence professionals turning against the U.S. However, he warned that employees from other government sectors could be even more vulnerable to recruitment efforts.
“When it comes to intellectual property theft, sensitive technology, or access to power grids and financial systems, someone from the IRS or Social Security Administration could be a bigger risk than a spy,” Montoya said.
Military and intelligence officials were once the primary focus of foreign espionage. Today, the vast amounts of data stored across government agencies make even mid-level employees valuable targets for foreign nations.
“In the past 20–25 years, China and Russia have shifted their strategy,” Montoya explained. “They now go after non-defense and non-classified information because it helps them modernize their military and infrastructure.”
How the internet has made it easier for foreign intelligence agencies to identify and recruit potential informants was also disclosed in this report.
Previously, Soviet spies relied on defectors coming forward or painstakingly identifying vulnerable former federal employees. Now, a LinkedIn search can quickly reveal former officials looking for work.
“You go on LinkedIn, find someone who was ‘formerly at the Department of Defense, now seeking opportunities,’ and that’s all you need,” said Schindler.
A foreign spy service or a sophisticated scammer could easily exploit recently laid-off federal workers by posting fake job listings.
One growing concern is that foreign agents could arrange fraudulent job interviews, hiring former officials as “consultants” without them realizing they are feeding intelligence to an adversary. Russia has previously used this tactic to extract information from unsuspecting Americans.
Payton’s advice to former federal employees? The same warning she gives counterespionage officials: “Stay on high alert.”
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has remained silent on the potential risks posed by the layoffs. Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has announced an investigation into leaks within the intelligence community—though her focus appears to be on whistleblowers rather than counterespionage threats.
A statement from her office confirmed that claims of intelligence community members improperly releasing information would be investigated.
“There are many patriots in the intelligence community who have voiced concerns about these issues for years, only to be ignored,” the office stated. “That will no longer be the case.”
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