On Thursday, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced that the bureau has successfully dismantled a significant Chinese espionage operation operating within the United States, which involved agents actively attempting to recruit American service members to betray their nation.
In a statement shared on X, Bongino revealed that the FBI executed eight search warrants and made two arrests in cities including San Francisco, Houston, Portland, and San Diego as part of this operation. He characterized the spy ring as ‘sophisticated’ and directly linked to the Chinese government.
‘This is your FBI, and you deserve to be informed about the efforts we undertake daily to ensure the safety of our country and its citizens,’ Bongino stated.
This operation follows a series of incidents earlier this year where U.S. Army soldiers were discovered passing sensitive information to the People’s Republic of China, which Bongino referred to as ‘treason-adjacent espionage.’The FBI reported that the foreign agents were attempting to acquire U.S. defense secrets and advanced technologies, including missile and drone capabilities, while also engaging in surveillance and intimidation activities on American soil
Since January 2025, the FBI has apprehended 51 foreign intelligence agents from countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The charges against them range from economic espionage and evasion of sanctions to the theft of classified information and the smuggling of biological materials.
Bongino noted that the bureau currently has nearly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases, with over 800 new cases initiated this year alone.
‘We usually operate behind the scenes in this area,’ he remarked, ‘but we recognize the necessity of rebuilding your trust in the FBI and learning from previous errors.’
He further mentioned that the agency has declassified thousands of pages of counterintelligence documents and has shared them with Congress to enhance transparency and restore public trust.
“God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” Bongino stated.
The FBI’s deputy director has recently been the focus of considerable speculation concerning his position within the FBI, as reports indicate he was displeased with the management of the Jeffrey Epstein situation.
