A Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) employee has been arrested for allegedly attempting to leak classified national defense information to a foreign government, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday.

Nathan Vilas Laatsch, 28, an IT specialist working in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division, was taken into custody following an undercover FBI operation. Laatsch, who holds a Top Secret security clearance, is accused of offering sensitive information to a foreign government described by officials as “friendly,” though the specific country has not been named.

According to court documents, the FBI received a tip that Laatsch intended to share national defense information because he no longer aligned with the current U.S. administration's values. In a series of communications with an undercover FBI agent posing as a foreign contact, Laatsch allegedly expressed a desire to obtain citizenship abroad, stating that he believed “things here [in the U.S.] are not expected to improve in the long term.”

Federal authorities say Laatsch’s role within the DIA's insider threat team—a unit specifically tasked with detecting and preventing internal breaches—makes the allegations especially concerning.

“This case highlights the persistent risk posed by insider threats, particularly in agencies tasked with protecting national security,” a Justice Department spokesperson said.

Laatsch now faces charges related to the attempted unauthorized disclosure of national defense information. The investigation remains ongoing. (ILKHA)