December 2025 Newsletter

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Public Intelligence Project – CIA Labs
November & December 2025 Highlights

Advancing Investigations into Corruption Across Federal Systems

During November and December 2025, the Public Intelligence Project continued its comprehensive investigations into corruption within federal institutions, including the judiciary, federal law enforcement agencies, and elements inside the Central Intelligence Agency. While the findings remain classified, our research confirms the presence of a global network of corrupt actors who align themselves with extremist groups historically associated with the Ku Klux Klan. These include organizations such as “We The People” (a successor to QAnon), the Oath Keepers, and the Punishers, all groups that maintain influence across political, judicial, and law enforcement sectors at the federal, state, and municipal levels.

Our analysis also revealed systemic failures by certain agencies to report active investigations involving:

1. Criminal undocumented actors
2. Drug trafficking networks
3. Human trafficking operations
4. Undocumented gang and cartel leadership

In several cases, rogue officials and agents were found to be unlawfully leveraging criminal networks to support underground operations, including:

1. Murder‑for‑hire activities
2. Unreported, agent‑controlled drug trafficking
3. Prostitution networks
4. Unauthorized data sharing
5. Coordinated theft operations
6. Manipulation of court hearings and rulings
7. Witness tampering

As we move into 2026, the Public Intelligence Project - working in coordination with CIA leadership, will expand its focus to include corrupt actors within the armed forces and congressional sectors.

Logistics and Trade Controls: Strengthening Oversight

The Public Intelligence Project continued its interstate and intrastate logistics studies to better understand how shipping companies manipulate regulatory systems. Areas of concern include:

1. Manipulation of shipping rates
2. Influence over shipping regulations and regulators
3. Concealment or laundering of unreported shipping income
4. Insurance fraud
5. Unauthorized sharing of private or sensitive data
6. Cargo theft

In December, the Project joined Nielsonsmith Ltd in Washington, D.C., for the European Trade Controls Strategic Summit, held December 3–4 at the Dupont Circle Hotel. The summit provided critical insight into how international trade professionals are navigating evolving European trade controls and adapting to new global compliance frameworks.

Christopher L. Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of the Public Intelligence Project, of the CIA Labs, attended on behalf of the agency. His participation supported our broader mission to identify corruption within international trade routes, including the use of third‑party nations to obscure transactions involving sanctioned countries. The summit also revealed gaps in service‑provider systems that can inform improved regulatory oversight and monitoring.

Reflecting on the event, Deputy Director Fitzgerald noted:

“The insights provided were extremely helpful in approaching international trade through the lens of public diplomacy. This summit clarified where disconnects exist between countries, governments, and industries that play major roles in the import/export markets worldwide.”

His observations underscore the summit’s broader significance as a platform for shaping diplomatic and strategic approaches to global trade.

Diplomatic Services of America: A New Public‑Facing Arm

December 2025 marked the formal public introduction of the Foreign Services Office of the Public Intelligence Project - Diplomatic Services of America (DSA). As the State Department–aligned diplomatic arm of the agency, DSA provides a public-facing structure for the Project’s longstanding involvement in diplomatic affairs, and international cooperation. Diplomatic Service and State Department support, have both been a longstanding sector within the CIA, and The Public Intelligence Project. We are excited to bring DSA to the forefront to highlight our work for the public, and for global diplomatic leaders.

More information about DSA’s initiatives will be shared in future updates.

Happy Holidays,

Christopher L. Fitzgerald
Deputy Director, 

The Public Intelligence Project – CIA Labs
Global Coordinator for Anti‑Corruption,

U.S. Department of State