Top Intelligence Lawmaker Fears China May Exploit DOGE's Changes to Government

The US government is facing a growing concern that Chinese espionage units may be exploiting the recent changes made by Elon Musk-led DOGE entity, which has gained access to several agencies' sensitive systems and is accelerating the termination of thousands of federal employees. According to Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Beijing may be watching closely as federal workers become distracted by the new developments.

Himes expressed his concern that Chinese espionage units, such as Volt Typhoon, a pervasive cyberespionage group, are taking advantage of the government's distraction to launch severe hacking activities. He stated that China's hacking activity is "as severe as we have ever seen it" and warned that people inside the federal government may be vulnerable to being exploited due to their current workload.

"People are people, and I wouldn’t blame anybody in this field, inside the federal government, for being distracted, for all the reasons I outlined," Himes said. "But what are the Chinese thinking about where there may be gaps? Where there may be inattention? What can they do?" He highlighted the Trump administration's treatment of federal workers in national security roles, particularly the recent firing of NSA Director Gen. Timothy Haugh and the targeting of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and multiple intelligence community offices for workforce reductions.

Himes expressed his worry about the "brain drain" caused by the termination of thousands of federal employees, saying that it could lead to a significant loss of expertise and knowledge in critical areas. He also referenced the recent White House executive order targeting former CISA chief Chris Krebs, which he saw as an attempt to silence critics.

A Call for Calm and Reauthorization

Himes urged calm and emphasized that government workers are essential to national security. He hoped that the administration would acknowledge the end of the DOGE entity's mission and focus on re-establishing stability in the government. To address this concern, Himes advocated for the reauthorization of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, a foundational law that allows the private sector to share threat intelligence data with the government.

"We need to set up a safe space where information can travel back and forth better than it does," Himes said. He also emphasized the need for a better offensive hacking strategy against cyber adversaries, citing the importance of identifying servers and individuals involved in malicious activities and taking proportional measures to address them.

A Proportional Response

Himes referenced the Salt Typhoon campaign, a Chinese hacking campaign that was discovered inside the core systems of major telecom providers last year. He suggested that a similar response could be implemented by identifying servers and individuals involved in malicious activities and taking proportional measures to address them.

A Growing Concern for National Security

The recent changes made by DOGE entity have raised concerns about Chinese espionage units exploiting the situation. Rep. Jim Himes's comments highlight the need for caution and proactive measures to prevent potential cyber threats. As the US government navigates this complex issue, it is essential to prioritize national security and take steps to protect sensitive systems and data.