Who’s Really Working For Our Enemies? Look Inside Congress

The American people have long placed their trust in elected officials to uphold the Constitution, defend national interests, and safeguard classified information. But what happens when members of Congress—many without security clearances or vetted backgrounds—become unintentional (or worse, willing) conduits of sensitive intelligence?

Welcome to Capitol Hill in the 21st century: a chamber where briefings intended to remain behind closed doors often echo loudly as anonymous leaks across social media, cable news, and hostile foreign networks.

No Clearance, No Problem

Unlike members of the executive branch, most members of Congress are not required to hold security clearances. That’s right—individuals with no formal vetting process, no background investigation, and potentially questionable ties to foreign entities are granted access to classified information simply because they hold office. It’s a loophole as gaping as it is dangerous.

Classified briefings are routinely provided to Congressional committees and subcommittees. While the information is intended to guide national decision-making, “anonymous” leaks and “summaries” often spill out within hours. Some of these leaks are intentional, politically motivated to damage rivals or shape public narratives. Others are reckless, the product of carelessness or ideological zealotry. Either way, the damage is real, and our enemies are listening.

Divided Loyalties?

There is also a growing unease about the increasing number of legislators with deep ties to foreign ethnic communities or foreign political causes. Representation is one thing—many Americans celebrate the diversity of backgrounds in Congress. But what happens when personal identity, cultural allegiance, or foreign political sympathies begin to influence how classified information is interpreted—or shared?

In recent years, intelligence officials have sounded the alarm over adversarial foreign governments cultivating influence within U.S. institutions. Congress, unfortunately, is not immune. While the media obsesses over campaign finance violations or lobbyist dinners, few dare to question how deeply some elected officials are entangled in ethnic nationalist politics beyond our borders.

The Leak Culture: Anonymous Sources, Real Consequences

Making matters worse is the now-routine collaboration between anonymous Congressional sources and a willing press corps. “According to a senior lawmaker briefed on the matter…” has become the standard preamble for intelligence leaks that shape national headlines—without scrutiny, context, or accountability.

These leaks frequently follow classified briefings and are carefully worded to maintain plausible deniability. Often, they’re fed to ideologically aligned journalists who are more interested in the political impact than in the national security consequences.

This culture of leaking has two corrosive effects:

• It undermines the credibility of legitimate intelligence efforts, causing public confusion and mistrust.
• It provides adversaries with early insight into U.S. operations, capabilities, and internal divisions.

What was once considered espionage-by-proxy is now often presented as “transparency” or whistleblowing. However, leaking information from within Congress—without evidence, context, or a traceable source—is neither journalism nor a patriotic act. It’s sabotage.

National Security or Political Theater?

When classified briefings become talking points—broadcast with rhetorical flair by unvetted lawmakers seeking media attention—it ceases to be oversight. It becomes a threat. Whether it’s China, Russia, Iran, or transnational terrorist networks, our adversaries are watching C-SPAN, reading tweets, and tuning in to every word.

It’s time to confront the hard truth: the weakest link in America’s national security chain might not be a spy or hacker—it might be a sitting member of Congress with a microphone, an agenda, and no clearance.

Time for Reform

Congress must be held to the same standards of security and accountability that apply across the federal government. That means:

• Mandatory security clearances for any member accessing classified briefings.
• Routine and nonpartisan background investigations.
• Zero tolerance for unauthorized disclosure of sensitive material.
• Scrutiny of foreign entanglements—financial, familial, and ideological.
• Criminal penalties for leaking classified information, regardless of title.

Oversight without accountability is just theater. And theater in the age of information warfare is not harmless—it’s dangerous.

Bottom Line

America cannot defend secrets in war if it cannot keep them in peace. When elected officials treat classified intelligence like political currency—and when anonymous leaks become standard operating procedure—our enemies win without firing a shot. Congress was meant to be a guardian of the republic, not a broadcast tower for our vulnerabilities. If we don’t demand security and accountability from those entrusted with our nation’s secrets, we might soon find ourselves answering to the very adversaries we once tried to deter.

We are so screwed.

-- Steve