The agency is reportedly struggling to recruit assets and agents, intelligence sources have told the newspaper
The CIA is grappling with difficulties in recruiting foreign informants and “needs more spies,” The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing current and former intelligence officials.
Chief among the problems the sources listed is the global proliferation of public surveillance systems and advances in facial recognition, which make it harder for operatives to avoid detection.
CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis acknowledged the issue in a recent public interview, saying that although “some of the tools and techniques from the 1960s or ‘70s might still work today, a lot of them need to be updated and refreshed.”
Other officials pointed to past setbacks, according to the WaPo, including the agency’s aggressive recruitment of Chinese officials in the early 2000s. Beijing’s security forces later dismantled that network, reportedly imprisoning and executing up to two dozen CIA assets.
The COVID-19 pandemic also hindered operations, the report said, by disrupting face-to-face meetings with informants due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. US President Donald Trump’s current plan to close 10 embassies and 17 consulates as part of budget cuts threatens to further reduce the CIA’s footprint globally.
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In an effort to attract defectors, the CIA has produced what the reports described as “Hollywood-quality” videos targeting Russian and Chinese audiences, which have been distributed via social media. While officials told the Post that some Russians have responded, they declined to provide specifics.
The ads sparked incredulity in both countries and parodies that reversed the agency’s message by highlighting American problems.
Chinese netizens are having fun with the CIA’s recruitment ad for Chinese spies!They’ve turned it around and made it even more convincing than the original! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/XTZroUlXUZ
— Dominic Lee 李梓敬 (@dominictsz) May 5, 2025
Domestically, the CIA’s recruitment of new agents has declined by double-digit percentages since 2019, a former official told the Post. The newspaper noted that a recent directive from the White House that led to the circulation of an unclassified list of new hires — including first names and initials — could impact morale and security.
In 2021, the agency was ridiculed for a recruitment video featuring a “cisgender Millennial who has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.” Ellis said the current leadership is focused on building “the ultimate meritocracy at the CIA.”
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