FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced Thursday that the bureau has shut down a major Chinese espionage operation operating inside the United States.
In a post on X, Bongino said agents executed eight search warrants and made two arrests in San Francisco, Houston, Portland, and San Diego as part of the counterintelligence operation.
“This is your FBI, and you deserve to know about the work we’re doing every day to keep our country and citizens safe,” Bongino wrote.
Chinese Agents Targeted U.S. Troops, Tech
Bongino described the spy ring as “sophisticated” and directly linked to the Chinese Communist Party, with operatives actively trying to recruit U.S. service members and steal classified military technology—including missile and drone capabilities.
The agents also engaged in surveillance and intimidation campaigns on American soil, the FBI confirmed.
This latest action follows a string of recent cases in which U.S. Army soldiers were caught leaking sensitive information to the Chinese government.
Bongino referred to these incidents as “treason-adjacent espionage.”
FBI Ramps Up Counterintelligence
The FBI has arrested 51 foreign intelligence agents since January, tied to regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Charges include:
Bongino said the bureau currently has nearly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases, with over 800 new cases opened in 2025 alone.
“We typically work behind the scenes in this space,” Bongino said. “But we understand we need to rebuild your trust in the FBI and learn from past mistakes.”
The FBI has also declassified thousands of pages of intelligence files and submitted them to Congress to promote transparency.
“God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” Bongino concluded.
