China’s Communist Party exploits U.S. money, universities, and land for espionage, but President Trump’s allies in Congress push bold reforms to strike back and protect American sovereignty.
Story Highlights
- Rep. Rick Crawford warns of “red lights flashing critical” on CCP spying via economic tools, academic theft, and strategic land buys.
- SECURE Act advances to unify disjointed counterintelligence under ODNI, enabling proactive offense against China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.
- The current system covers less than 10% of high-priority foreign spies, risking 9/11-style failures without urgent reset.
- Experts unite behind reforms aligning with Trump-era priorities under DNI Tulsi Gabbard to counter unrestricted warfare.
CCP’s Insidious Infiltration Tactics
Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman, highlighted China’s aggressive spying in a Washington Times interview on October 8, 2025. The CCP deploys money for influence operations, universities for research theft, and land purchases near military bases for surveillance. These tactics create a permissive landscape for state-sponsored networks. Crawford described the threat level as “red lights flashing critical,” demanding a proactive counterintelligence shift. This aligns with longstanding conservative concerns over foreign exploitation eroding national security.
Fragmented Counterintelligence Exposed
U.S. counterintelligence remains fragmented across CIA, FBI, DIA, NSA, and military branches despite post-9/11 efforts. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center lacks authority to direct operations, resulting in under 10% coverage of high-priority foreign spies. House Intelligence Committee oversight from 2017-2025 revealed a disjointed apparatus fixated on smoking-gun evidence rather than disruption. CIA losses in China pre-2023 and DOE-funded research aiding Chinese military under prior administrations underscore vulnerabilities. Reforms promise unification to safeguard American innovation and defenses.
Watch;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2tHQ_lNrAc
SECURE Act Ushers in Offensive Strategy
The SECURE Act, advanced within the FY2026 Intelligence Authorization Act on October 1-8, 2025, establishes a National Counterintelligence Center under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. This body gains directive authority, replacing reactive silos with offensive operations including deception and a national task force. The bill redefines counterintelligence to deter, disrupt, investigate, and exploit threats. DNI Tulsi Gabbard collaborated on these Trump-aligned priorities. As of October 2025, it passed committee, awaiting full House vote and Senate conference.
Expert endorsements released October 15, 2025, reinforce urgency. John Schindler, ex-NSA, praised the proposal against rising espionage. Shawn Michaud, ex-Army CI, noted it empowers ODNI leadership. Brig. Gen. Terry Bullard, ex-Air Force OSI, endorsed the reactive-to-offensive pivot. Shane McNeil, ex-Pentagon CI, urged treating threats as unrestricted warfare. Charles Faddis, ex-CIA, raised execution concerns, while Michelle Van Cleave, ex-NCI Director, warned DOGE cuts heightened risks.
Implications for American Security and Values
Short-term, unified counterintelligence disrupts CCP operations through deception, covering more spies effectively. Long-term, it averts intelligence failures like 9/11 and counters unrestricted warfare from adversaries. Academia and tech sectors face reduced Chinese infiltration, protecting economic edges in AI and research. Political impacts strengthen congressional oversight against government overreach. Socially, it curbs foreign influence in universities and land near bases, preserving conservative priorities of sovereignty and limited foreign meddling. Without SECURE, regression looms amid Senate delays and implementation doubts.
Sources:
House Intelligence Committee: What They Are Saying: U.S. Counterintelligence Reform Cannot Wait
The Washington Times: House Intel Chair Seeks to Reform ‘Disjointed’ Counterspy System
Congress.gov: H.R.5022 – AI OVERWATCH Act
House Select Committee on the CCP: Press Releases
AMAC: Report: Biden’s Department of Energy Exposed Research Secrets to Chinese Military
