The Trump administration has dismissed a US State Department official for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a Chinese woman believed to have ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to an official statement released on Wednesday.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that the Foreign Service officer admitted to hiding the relationship, which violated federal rules and raised national security concerns.
“The State Department has officially terminated the employment of a Foreign Service officer who admitted concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national with known ties to the Chinese Communist Party,” Pigott said.
Although the diplomat reportedly acknowledged on video that the woman “could have been a spy,” there is no confirmed evidence of espionage.
The officer also stated that the woman’s father was “straight-up communist party,” according to the department.
This marks the first dismissal under a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump after returning to office, which mandates strict compliance with national security protocols.
“We will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any employee who is caught undermining our country’s national security,” Pigott added.
Earlier this year, the U.S. government introduced new restrictions prohibiting diplomatic staff in China from engaging in romantic relationships with local nationals, a measure that analysts say echoes Cold War-era precautions.
