CIA sent classified employee information to the White House via email: Allegations that it was 'visible to everyone'

A list of individuals hired in the last 2 years to work on China was shared by the CIA with the White House via email. According to reports in the U.S. press, employee data targeted by Chinese hackers was uploaded to the internet without any precautions taken.

Some former CIA employees and government officials stated that because the list was sent to the White House via email, it could have been easily intercepted by China, Russia, or other foreign intelligence services. It was noted that this move by the CIA was part of U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to downsize and reshape the federal government.

In a report by CNN citing 3 different sources, it was emphasized that the list, which was stated to have been shared with the White House Office of Personnel Management, contained data belonging to young analysts and agents who were specifically hired to work on China and were 'closely protected due to being targets of Chinese hackers.'

While the White House did not deny the allegations, it was suggested that the leak occurred due to 'Trump's layoff plans.' It was alleged that the Trump administration was collecting data on civil servants to determine who would be laid off.

CIA HOPES DATA WILL BE PROTECTED

Speaking to the New York Times on the matter, a CIA official stated that only the initials of the first and last names of personnel hired in the last 2 years were shared, and that they hoped personal data would be protected in this way.

Democrat Jim Himes, who serves on the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, emphasized that the CIA should not have sent the names in an 'unclassified email that could be seen by anyone,' expressing his concern about the possibility of employees' identities being targeted.

Himes stated the following:

'There is a reason these details are classified. Protecting the identities of CIA employees is critical to their safety and their missions.'

It was alleged that CIA personnel were also included in the new U.S. administration's efforts to "downsize the federal government." According to the claims, the CIA had offered all its employees the option to 'resign,' informing them that they would be able to receive their social benefits.

It was claimed that the severance offer presented by the Trump administration to all federal employees who would leave their jobs by February 6 was accepted by 20 thousand personnel.