The FBI is reportedly investigating a North Korean national who was hired to work for an unnamed U.S. federal government agency. This investigation was first reported by Federal News Network, citing a senior FBI official who spoke at a conference on July 28 in Washington, D.C.
It remains unclear how the individual was hired. The North Korean regime is known for its coordinated efforts to fraudulently obtain remote employment at private organisations and multinational companies, with the aim of funnelling wages back to the regime and stealing intellectual property.
While strict vetting has largely prevented such infiltration of government agencies, this case marks a rare confirmed instance. In 2024, the Justice Department brought charges against a Maryland man for assisting a North Korean hacker to pose as an American and secure a remote contractor position with the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FBI did not respond to a request for comment, and it is not known which federal agency was affected or if any data or funds were stolen.