FBI Busts Chinese Spy Ring Targeting U.S. Military Personnel
Dan Bongino Announces Major Counterintelligence Operation
In a major national security development, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino revealed Thursday that the bureau has dismantled a sophisticated Chinese espionage network operating within the United States, with agents allegedly attempting to recruit American service members.
Posting to X, Bongino confirmed that the FBI executed eight search warrants and made two arrests across four cities: San Francisco, Houston, Portland, and San Diego. He stated that the spy ring was “directly tied to the Chinese government.”
“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.
The operation follows a string of incidents earlier this year involving U.S. Army personnel accused of leaking sensitive information to the People’s Republic of China—a trend Bongino labeled as “treason-adjacent espionage.”
According to the FBI, the foreign operatives targeted classified U.S. defense data, including missile and drone technologies. They were also reportedly involved in domestic surveillance and intimidation efforts.
Since January 2025, the FBI has arrested 51 foreign intelligence agents tied to nations such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The charges span economic espionage, sanctions evasion, biological material smuggling, and theft of classified information.
Bongino also disclosed that the FBI is currently managing nearly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases, with over 800 new investigations opened this year 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.”
To that end, Bongino stated the agency has declassified thousands of pages of counterintelligence materials and shared them with Congress to promote transparency.
“God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” he concluded.
Internal Rift: Bongino’s Dispute with DOJ Over Epstein Case
FBI Deputy Director Considered Resignation Over Transparency Concerns
Bongino’s announcement comes amid speculation about his own standing at the FBI. According to The New York Post, he briefly considered resigning last week over disagreements with Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Sources confirmed that Bongino returned to work on Monday after taking personal leave on Friday. While tensions have reportedly cooled, insiders say his future with the agency remains uncertain following heated internal discussions.
The Justice Department and FBI recently released a summary report on the Epstein case. Epstein, the convicted sex offender with ties to numerous high-profile figures, died in a Manhattan prison cell on August 10, 2019. The case has long been shrouded in controversy.
The release has reignited divisions among Trump-aligned figures, with some praising Bongino for standing firm on calls for greater transparency.
Adding to the intrigue, Epstein’s former lawyer, David Schoen, publicly stated in June that Trump had no ties to Epstein’s criminal activities.
“I can say authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitively that [Epstein] had no information to hurt President Trump,” Schoen posted to X. “I specifically asked him!”
Schoen said he was hired nine days before Epstein’s death and had advised him in the months leading up to it.