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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Recent mass layoffs in the U.S. government, notably overseen by Elon Musk, have resulted in some employees with top security clearances being dismissed without the customary exit briefings. Sources indicate that this lack of briefings raises significant national security concerns, given the sensitive nature of the information these workers were privy to.
Typically, employees with top-secret clearances are required to undergo a final security briefing. This session serves to remind them of their obligations regarding non-disclosure agreements and the potential legal repercussions of sharing classified information. However, four sources revealed that this standard procedure was bypassed during the recent layoffs instigated by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in February.
Two former employees with top-secret clearances—one from the Department of Energy and another from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—reported to Reuters that they did not receive any form of security debriefing upon their termination. Additional sources from the Department of Energy confirmed that several of the dismissed workers from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), responsible for the nation’s nuclear arsenal, also missed this critical step.
While the laptops of those fired were promptly disconnected from access to sensitive government data, these employees were not immediately required to return their devices. This situation raises questions regarding the safeguards in place to prevent potential data breaches, especially given the context of heightened concerns over foreign espionage aimed at the U.S. government and corporate sectors.
As of recent statistics, over 1.25 million individuals held top-secret clearances within the U.S. government, contractors, and affiliated organizations. However, it remains unclear how many from this pool were relieved of their duties without undergoing the essential security debriefing.
A spokesperson from the Department of Energy asserted that measures are being undertaken to remind all recently dismissed employees of their legal obligations to the U.S., as stipulated by federal law. The State Department and the White House did not offer immediate comments regarding this matter.
Experts have expressed alarm at the implications of these lapses. Kevin Carroll, a former CIA officer now practicing law, characterized the absence of final briefings for top-secret officials as a severe counterintelligence risk. Such briefings are crucial for informing departing personnel of the potential dangers they face, especially as individuals in similar positions have been targeted by foreign agencies seeking intelligence.
The ongoing risks of foreign intelligence activities have been underscored by government warnings about the tactics utilized by foreign actors. The U.S. government has observed that foreign spies frequently masquerade as professional recruiters on networking sites to identify potential sources of classified information.
Mark Zaid, a national security attorney, highlighted that deviations from established protocols could culminate in significant security vulnerabilities. He noted that the expedited and somewhat reckless decisions made by DOGE’s less-experienced personnel could potentially expose former employees to recruitment efforts from foreign adversaries.
The repercussions of these actions are particularly pronounced in sectors dealing with nuclear security. According to sources, none of the employees involved in nuclear-related operations received adequate debriefings, making them susceptible to coercion from foreign entities, particularly as they navigate the loss of employment.
Additionally, Musk and his enterprise, SpaceX, are currently under scrutiny by federal authorities for their adherence to national security regulations. Past incidents, such as a security clearance review following Musk’s public marijuana use on a podcast, add to the combustible environment in which these layoff decisions are being made.
In one instance, a former USAID employee, specializing in conflict prevention and stabilization, was terminated without the customary exit clearance procedures. This individual, who had spent approximately eight years working on critical humanitarian programs, emphasized the importance of the intelligence they had accessed in making informed decisions related to poverty and extremism mitigation strategies.
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