DIA Employee Arrested for Leaking Classified Information in FBI Sting Operation
Washington, D.C. – A 28-year-old Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) employee, Nathan Vilas Laatsch, was arrested today on charges of attempting to leak classified national defense information to a friendly foreign government, the FBI and Department of Justice announced. Laatsch, who held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance, allegedly acted out of opposition to the current Trump administration’s policies.
According to authorities, Laatsch, an IT specialist based in Alexandria, Virginia, expressed in an email that he did not “agree or align with the values of this administration” and sought citizenship in another country because he did not “expect things here to improve in the long term.” The FBI was tipped off about his intentions and initiated a sting operation, posing as representatives of the unnamed foreign government. On two separate occasions, Laatsch transcribed and smuggled classified intelligence products, believing he was handing them over to a foreign official. He was apprehended following the second exchange.
Laatsch’s LinkedIn profile reveals an unconventional career path. Before joining the DIA as a computer scientist in July 2019, he worked as a cashier at Publix Super Markets in Florida for a decade, from June 2015 to June 2019. He also held a position as a student researcher at the University of Central Florida from January 2018 to May 2018. Public reactions have questioned how someone with such a background obtained a high-level clearance and a sensitive role at the DIA, raising concerns about the federal vetting process.
This arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of the U.S. intelligence community’s handling of classified information under the Trump administration. A March 2025 report highlighted a leaked Signal group chat involving U.S. officials discussing airstrikes, which strained relations with Five Eyes allies—Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the need for allies to “look out for ourselves” as trust in U.S. intelligence handling wavers.
The incident also underscores ongoing challenges with insider threats. A 2016 FBI report noted that no U.S. industry is immune to espionage, with defense and high-tech sectors being prime targets. Critics have called for a complete audit of security clearances, arguing that the DIA’s Insider Threat Division failed to monitor Laatsch adequately. Others have speculated on the identity of the “friendly foreign government,” a detail the FBI has not disclosed.
Laatsch’s actions reflect a broader tension within the intelligence community. A January 2025 article warned of potential disruptions under Trump’s leadership, citing his past disregard for intelligence protocols—such as posting a classified satellite image online during his first term. The America First Policy Institute has proposed stricter rules for intelligence officers, which some fear could stifle operations by fostering risk aversion.
The Department of Justice has not released further details on the specific information Laatsch attempted to leak or the foreign government involved. However, the case highlights the delicate balance between national security and political dissent, as well as the vulnerabilities in safeguarding America’s most sensitive intelligence. Laatsch faces severe penalties if convicted, with some advocating for life imprisonment without parole for such betrayals.