As President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continue to lay off thousands of federal employees, concerns are rising about attempts at possible espionage.
Mass layoffs in the U.S. federal government can lead to espionage due to several key factors. First, many federal employees have access to sensitive or classified information, especially in national security and intelligence agencies. When these employees are laid off, they may retain knowledge of critical data that could be exploited. Additionally, without proper oversight during the termination process, former employees might not be adequately monitored, increasing the risk of unauthorized disclosures.
READ: Citizens may access DOGE data via Freedom of Information Act (March, 11, 2025)
Disgruntled or resentful workers could also be motivated to leak information as an act of revenge or for financial gain. Former employees, particularly those with specialized skills or knowledge, may be approached by foreign governments or organizations looking to exploit their access to sensitive materials. Espionage often relies on the manipulation of individuals who have inside knowledge, and mass layoffs increase the pool of potential targets.
“This happens even in good times — someone in the intelligence community who for personal financial or other reasons walks into an embassy to sell America out — but DOGE is taking it to a whole new level,” said John Schindler, a former counterintelligence official, to the Associated Press.
Furthermore, a reduction in staff could lead to security gaps within agencies, making it harder to track or control information. Agencies may also face difficulty in replacing experienced personnel quickly, leaving vulnerable points in their operations. Overall, these factors create opportunities for espionage if proper precautions and security measures are not taken during layoffs.
“This information is highly valuable, and it shouldn’t be surprising that Russia and China and other organizations — criminal syndicates for instance — would be aggressively recruiting government employees,” said Theresa Payton, a former White House chief information officer under President George W. Bush, who now runs her own cybersecurity firm.