Summary

U.S. intelligence has found that Russia and China are actively recruiting recently fired or at-risk federal employees, particularly those with security clearances.

The effort coincides with the Trump administration’s mass layoffs in the federal workforce. Foreign intelligence officers are using LinkedIn and other platforms to identify potential recruits.

Officials warn this could expose critical U.S. secrets, but the administration has dismissed concerns.

Meanwhile, internal layoffs at the CIA and Pentagon may further increase vulnerabilities, with some terminated employees already challenging their dismissals in court.