Concerns about espionage rise as Trump and Musk fire thousands of federal workers
Demonstrators rally in support of federal workers outside of the Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 14, 2025 in Washington. Credit: AP/Mark Schiefelbein
As President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk work to overhaul the federal government, they’re forcing out thousands of workers with insider knowledge and connections who now need a job.
For Russia, China and other adversaries, the upheaval in Washington as Musk's Department of Government Efficiency guts government agencies presents an unprecedented opportunity to recruit informants, national security and intelligence experts say.
Every former federal worker with knowledge of or access to sensitive information or systems could be a target. When thousands of them leave their jobs at the same time, that creates a lot of targets, as well as a counterespionage challenge for the United States.
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