FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed Thursday that federal agents have dismantled a sophisticated Chinese espionage ring operating deep within the United States — a major win for national security and a clear warning to America's adversaries under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump.

In a post to X, Bongino announced the results of a sweeping counterintelligence operation involving eight search warrants and two arrests spanning San Francisco, Houston, Portland, and San Diego. The spies, allegedly working directly for the Chinese Communist Party, had infiltrated key areas of American society and were actively targeting sensitive military technology.

“This is your FBI, and you deserve to know about the work we’re doing every day to keep our country and citizens safe,” Bongino stated.

The bust follows a series of disturbing arrests earlier this year involving U.S. Army personnel accused of leaking military secrets to Beijing. Bongino didn’t mince words, calling it “treason-adjacent espionage” — a clear indication that America remains under siege from foreign intelligence networks emboldened during prior weak administrations.

According to the FBI, the Chinese operatives aimed to steal next-generation U.S. military capabilities — including missile and drone tech — while also carrying out surveillance and intimidation campaigns against American citizens, particularly dissidents and whistleblowers.

The operation is part of a larger, aggressive counterintelligence initiative launched under President Trump’s second term, a direct response to mounting threats from hostile foreign powers. Since January 2025, the FBI has apprehended 51 foreign agents tied to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Their charges range from economic sabotage and sanctions evasion to trafficking classified and bio-sensitive materials.

Bongino also revealed that the bureau is actively managing nearly 5,000 counterintelligence investigations — with over 800 new cases opened just this year.

“We typically work behind the scenes in this space,” Bongino said. “But we understand we need to rebuild your trust in the FBI and learn from past mistakes.”

To that end, the FBI has declassified and submitted thousands of pages of counterintelligence documents to Congress. It’s a bold step toward accountability — and a clear sign that the bureau is trying to clean house after years of deep state rot and politically motivated targeting of conservatives.

“God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” Bongino concluded.

But while Bongino is at the forefront of restoring the FBI’s credibility, internal tensions remain. The Post reports that Bongino returned to duty Monday after a personal day taken last Friday amid a heated clash with Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the ongoing Epstein investigation — a case still clouded in secrecy and government red tape.

Sources say Bongino has expressed strong frustration over the DOJ’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s mysterious 2019 death in federal custody. CNN reported that the 50-year-old deputy director had even considered resigning over what he believes are glaring failures and suppressed truths surrounding the case.

This week, both the FBI and DOJ released a summary review of the Epstein files, including new information about the circumstances of his death in a Manhattan federal prison on August 10, 2019.

For President Trump’s supporters, the Epstein case remains a rallying point — and many are lining up behind Bongino, praising him for taking a principled stand against what they see as institutional stonewalling and corruption.

Adding clarity to the matter, David Schoen — Epstein’s criminal defense attorney in his final days — directly addressed the smear attempts against President Trump.

“I was hired to lead Jeffrey Epstein’s defense as his criminal lawyer 9 days before he died. He sought my advice for months before that. I can say authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitively that he had no information to hurt President Trump. I specifically asked him!” Schoen stated in a post on X.

As the Trump administration ramps up pressure on America’s enemies and recommits to law-and-order justice, Bongino’s leadership at the FBI represents a turning point: a no-nonsense crackdown on foreign interference and a pledge to restore the FBI’s role as a defender of American liberty — not a tool of political persecution.