Virginia DIA Employee Detained for Attempting to Leak Classified Data to Foreign Government

In a chilling breach of national security, Nathan Laatsch, a 28-year-old IT specialist at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), was detained in Virginia for allegedly attempting to share classified national defense information with a foreign government. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that Laatsch, who held a top-secret security clearance, faces severe consequences—potentially life in prison or even the death penalty—depending on the case details.

Arrested after an FBI sting operation, Laatsch reportedly expressed discontent with the Trump administration’s values, prompting him to transcribe sensitive documents onto a notepad over three days. The DOJ stated he attempted to deposit a thumb drive containing Secret and Top-Secret information at a northern Virginia park on May 1, believing it would reach foreign hands. The drive included a message from Laatsch, boasting about the 'decent sample size' of classified data he could access.

Laatsch’s communications with an undercover FBI agent, whom he mistook for a foreign official, revealed his desire for foreign citizenship, citing pessimism about America’s future. While open to other forms of compensation, he emphasized his motives were not primarily financial. His actions culminated in a second drop-off attempt on May 29, leading to his arrest.

The case underscores the persistent threat of insider leaks, with Laatsch’s role in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division adding irony to his betrayal. A detention hearing is set for June 4, as the nation grapples with the implications of such a breach.