In the US, the Donald Trump administration is engaged in reducing the federal workforce. Most of the people being fired are those who are on probation period. Russia and China are trying to capitalize on this layoff. It is reported that foreign intelligence services, including Russia and China, are intensifying efforts to recruit US federal employees working in national security roles. Especially in the case of those employees who have recently been fired or who fear losing their jobs.
This has been said in a CNN report citing sources familiar with US intelligence assessments. CNN's sources revealed that Russia and China are specifically targeting former federal workers with security clearances and those working in probationary roles who may be at risk of being fired.
Why are these people being targeted?
These individuals are believed to have valuable information about critical US infrastructure and key government functions. Intelligence sources also indicated that at least two foreign countries have launched recruitment websites and are aggressively reaching out to federal employees via LinkedIn.
According to CNN, a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) document states with high confidence that adversaries of the US are trying to take advantage of the layoffs. The intelligence shows that foreign operatives are being instructed to search for potential recruits on platforms such as LinkedIn, TikTok, Rednote and Reddit.
Opponents consider American workers to be in the most vulnerable position
One source familiar with the intelligence told CNN, "These foreign adversaries believe that American employees are at their most vulnerable right now, out of a job, and probably unhappy about being fired." Another source revealed that fired federal employees with deep institutional knowledge are high-value targets for rival intelligence services.
China called the reports baseless speculation
Reacting to the report, Chinese Embassy spokesperson in the US Liu Pengyu rejected the claims, saying, "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 about China without any facts."
