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SpyWeek: Deep State Demolition Derby
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SpyWeek: Deep State Demolition Derby

Trump revenge-Musk downsizing campaign hits FBI, CIA, NSA and more while uncleared Musk moles rumage through private and classified personnel files

Seth Hettena's avatar
Seth Hettena
Feb 08, 2025
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SpyWeek: Deep State Demolition Derby
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Welcome to SpyWeek, our weekly newsletter, where we look at news from the intersection of intelligence, foreign policy, and military operations.

Acting FBI Director Brian “Drizz” Driscoll has become a hero to many in the Bureau for resisting DOJ demands, as this widely circulated meme attests.

INTEL BUYOUTS: Elon Musk’s government ”housecleaning” blitzkrieg began sweeping through the spy world last week, with the staffs of at least seven U.S. intelligence agencies receiving buyout offers from the Trump administration. Politico reported that full-time civilian workers at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the FBI, the NSA, the CIA, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence received similar or identical versions of the “Fork in the Road” email that was sent to an estimated 2 million employees late last month. That email allowed employees who typed “Resign” in the subject line and hit send to leave and be paid through the end of September. The Trump administration has argued the buyouts are needed to slash a bloated federal workforce and could save roughly $100 billion annually. 

The CIA’s offer differs from the "deferred resignation” offer extended to other federal employees.

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