Russia, China target laid-off US federal employees with 'valuable knowledge' for recruitment: Report

The intelligence suggests that foreign operatives are being directed to seek potential recruits on platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, RedNote, and Reddit.

Foreign intelligence services, including those from Russia and China, are intensifying efforts to recruit US federal employees working in national security roles, particularly those who have been recently fired or fear imminent job loss, CNN reported, citing sources familiar with recent US intelligence assessments.

According to the report, adversarial nations are seeking to exploit the Trump administration's recent push for mass layoffs across the federal workforce, a strategy detailed earlier this week by the Office of Personnel Management.

Russia and China are particularly targeting former federal employees with security clearances and those in probationary roles who may be at risk of termination, CNN sources revealed. These individuals are believed to possess valuable knowledge about US critical infrastructure and key government operations. Intelligence sources also indicated that at least two foreign countries have launched recruitment websites and are aggressively reaching out to federal employees via LinkedIn.

A document from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), reviewed by CNN, states with "high confidence" that foreign adversaries are attempting to take advantage of the layoffs. The intelligence suggests that foreign operatives are being directed to seek potential recruits on platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, RedNote, and Reddit.

In one case, a foreign intelligence officer allegedly instructed an asset to create a company profile on LinkedIn, post a job listing, and actively pursue federal employees who have marked themselves as "open to work," the NCIS document detailed.

“These foreign adversaries believe US employees are at their most vulnerable right now, out of a job, possibly bitter about being fired,” a source familiar with the intelligence told CNN. Another source revealed that dismissed federal employees, possessing extensive institutional knowledge, represent “high-value targets” for rival intelligence services.

The intelligence findings reinforce prior concerns among US officials that large-scale layoffs could create a fertile recruiting ground for foreign agencies seeking to exploit financially distressed or disgruntled former government personnel. In recent years, the U.S. Justice Department has prosecuted several ex-military and intelligence officials for providing classified information to China.

Responding to the report, Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu rejected the claims, stating, "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."