FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced Thursday that the agency had dismantled a sophisticated Chinese espionage network operating across several U.S. cities. As part of the operation, agents executed eight search warrants and arrested two individuals in San Francisco, Houston, Portland, and San Diego. Bongino described the spy ring as being directly tied to the Chinese government, with agents attempting to recruit U.S. military personnel to betray their country.

The Chinese agents allegedly targeted classified defense information and emerging technologies, including missile and drone capabilities. The FBI also linked the operation to broader surveillance and intimidation campaigns conducted on American soil. Bongino emphasized the seriousness of the threat, labeling it “treason-adjacent espionage,” and cited this case as part of an alarming trend of foreign interference.

Since January 2025, the FBI has arrested 51 foreign intelligence agents from countries including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. These arrests are related to charges like economic espionage, sanctions violations, and theft of classified material. Bongino revealed the bureau is actively managing nearly 5,000 counterintelligence cases, with more than 800 new ones opened this year alone.

To restore public confidence, Bongino said the FBI has declassified thousands of counterintelligence documents and shared them with Congress. He acknowledged the agency’s past mistakes and vowed to increase transparency moving forward. “We understand we need to rebuild your trust,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Bongino’s own future at the FBI has been questioned due to his reported dissatisfaction with the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Though he returned to work after a brief absence, his long-term status remains uncertain.