The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is ramping up efforts to expand its recruitment of spies and informants as global security challenges shift, particularly toward authoritarian regimes like China, Iran, and North Korea.
166 Open Positions
With more than 21,000 employees, the CIA's workforce includes not only clandestine operatives, but also professionals in analysis, technology, language, and STEM fields.
Currently, the agency has 166 open positions, seeking expertise in areas such as digital forensic engineering, cybersecurity, and legal counsel specializing in technology.
The CIA’s recent recruitment campaign, which targets informants in authoritarian states, reflects the agency’s evolving priorities, according to 20Minutos.
By releasing a video with instructions in Mandarin, Korean, and Farsi, the CIA aims to guide individuals on securely contacting the agency through public channels and the Dark Web.
Pass Extensive Background Checks
These efforts have already seen success in Russia, as the agency continues to gather critical intelligence from disillusioned citizens of oppressive regimes. "We want to ensure that people from other authoritarian regimes know we are open for business,” a CIA spokesperson said.
Becoming a CIA operative, known as a "clandestine," requires meeting high standards. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and willing to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area.
They must also pass extensive background checks, which include medical, physical, and psychological evaluations, as well as a polygraph test. The agency stresses the importance of personal integrity and loyalty to the U.S. in its selection process.
By broadening its global recruitment and leveraging advanced technologies, the CIA is adapting to a changing world where intelligence gathering in regions like the Indo-Pacific is crucial to national security.
