Army Counterintelligence Set to Enhance Espionage Arrests in 2026

New legal powers for Army counterintelligence agents are expected to significantly increase the number of espionage arrests in 2026, according to Army officials. Lt. Gen. Anthony Hale, the Army’s deputy chief of staff for intelligence, indicated that these authorities should be finalized by the end of the year. “I expect that authority to come from the Attorney General by the end of the year,” he stated during a briefing at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting.

Since its establishment in December 2021, the Army Counter Intelligence Command (ACIC) has conducted over 650 national security investigations. Despite this substantial activity, the command has made only 25 arrests. Col. Richard Dempsey, ACIC’s deputy commander, highlighted that more than 200 investigations are currently ongoing, reflecting the command’s active role in national security.

Legal Authority and Operational Challenges

The limited number of arrests can be attributed to several factors. Most notably, ACIC oversees only a small portion of the Army’s 3,000 counterintelligence agents. Furthermore, agents currently lack the legal authority to conduct searches, execute warrants, or make arrests outside Army installations. “Since most soldiers and Army civilian personnel live off base, Army CI has to rely on other agencies,” Hale explained. This dependency complicates evidence gathering, often leading to a challenging Catch-22 situation.

The reforms anticipated under the new legal framework aim to strengthen the Army’s ability to safeguard its secrets, especially as it introduces advanced technologies and faces increasing threats from foreign adversaries. “China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are collaborating in ways we have not seen before,” Hale cautioned during the panel discussion. Special Agent Scott Grovatt, who has served in Army counterintelligence for over three decades, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the ever-present danger of espionage.

Targeting Digital Natives

Today’s soldiers, often referred to as digital natives, are particularly vulnerable to espionage tactics. Grovatt noted that soldiers are targeted through popular online platforms such as LinkedIn and Reddit, where foreign intelligence agents may disguise themselves as researchers to lure service members into providing sensitive information. “They’re getting lured into possibly committing espionage, and they don’t even know it,” he said.

One common tactic involves enemy agents offering cash-strapped soldiers money to write “white papers” on newly issued technologies. “We can’t make an arrest off post, so we would have to work with another law enforcement agency—normally the FBI or the Army Criminal Investigation Division,” Hale stated. Yet, he acknowledged that many ongoing cases may not attract the attention of these agencies due to insufficient evidence.

These legal restrictions are expected to be lifted soon. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2025 includes provisions that grant Army counterintelligence agents the authority to execute searches, make arrests, and conduct operations off military installations. This change, hailed by Hale, will allow ACIC to operate independently and address its backlog of investigations. “Once we have the information we need, we can move forward with indictments,” he added.

Hale also referenced specific cases in the past year that led to multiple arrests at Fort Bliss and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, emphasizing that these numbers are minimal compared to the ongoing investigations across the continental United States.

The anticipated legal changes are expected to enhance the Army’s capacity to respond to espionage threats more effectively, ensuring that its operations remain secure in an increasingly complex international landscape.