President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has struck a significant blow against Chinese cyber threats by indicting i-Soon employees and APT27 hackers for their involvement in an international crime spree. These hackers, allegedly directed by China’s MPS and MSS, stole important data from U.S. critics, religious groups, and the Treasury Department.
For context, acting on information from the FBI, the DOJ exposed the “hacker-for-hire” scheme and launched a decisive counterattack. These actions showcase the president’s commitment to national security and unwillingness to let foreign actors victimize American Citizens.
Such as shown in a March 5, 2025 announcement from the DOJ, which provided details on the case. Explaining the role of his agency, Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division said, “The FBI is committed to protecting Americans from foreign cyber-attacks. Today’s announcements reveal that the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has been paying hackers-for-hire to inflict digital harm on Americans who criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).”
Adding more details, he said, “To those victims who bravely came forward with evidence of intrusions, we thank you for standing tall and defending our democracy. And to those who choose to aid the CCP in its unlawful cyber activities, these charges should demonstrate that we will use all available tools to identify you, indict you, and expose your malicious activity for all the world to see.”
Building on these remarks, Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, stated, “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our cybersecurity by stealing from our government and our people. Today, we are exposing the Chinese government agents directing and fostering indiscriminate and reckless attacks against computers and networks worldwide, as well as the enabling companies and individual hackers that they have unleashed. We will continue to fight to dismantle this ecosystem of cyber mercenaries and protect our national security.”
Putting the threat into context, Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky explained, “State-sponsored hacking is an acute threat to our community and national security. For years, these 10 defendants — two of whom we allege are PRC officials — used sophisticated hacking techniques to target religious organizations, journalists, and government agencies, all to gather sensitive information for the use of the PRC.”
Concluding his remarks, the Southern District of New York attorney said, “These charges will help stop these state-sponsored hackers and protect our national security. The career prosecutors of this office and our law enforcement partners will continue to uncover alleged state-sponsored hacking schemes, disrupt them, and bring those responsible to justice.”
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Tying this investigation into Trump’s agenda, Interim U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., who works for the District of Columbia, declared, “These indictments and actions show this office’s long-standing commitment to vigorously investigate and hold accountable Chinese hackers and data brokers who endanger U.S. national security and other victims across the globe.”
Concluding his comments, he said, “The defendants in these cases have been hacking for the Chinese government for years, and these indictments lay out the strong evidence showing their criminal wrongdoing. We again demand that the Chinese government to put a stop to these brazen cyber criminals who are targeting victims across the globe and then monetizing the data they have stolen by selling it across China.”