The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has announced that the US government is investigating a growing number of cases involving American scientists who have gone missing or died. Leavitt wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the Trump administration is working with the FBI and other federal agencies to examine the events as a whole and determine whether there are any links between them.
The announcement comes after growing worry about reports that at least 10 scientists who had access to sensitive nuclear, aerospace, or defense-related research have died or gone missing since mid-2024. An additional case has now brought the total to 11.
“In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases, and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist. No stone will be unturned in this effort, and the White House will provide updates when we have them,” Leavitt wrote on X.
The issue gained attention after a Fox News question highlighted the pattern. “There are now 10 American scientists who have either gone missing or died since mid-2024,” the publication asked, noting their access to classified material. At that time, Leavitt responded, saying, “I've seen the report. I haven't spoken to our relevant agencies about it. I will certainly do that, and we'll get you an answer.”
When asked about the same, US President Donald Trump said that he had “just left a meeting” on the matter, calling it “pretty serious.” He added, “I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half.”
US Congress, FBI and Other Agencies Step In
The investigation has expanded beyond the White House. The House Oversight Committee, led by James Comer and Representative Eric Burlison, has formally requested briefings from multiple agencies, including the FBI, Department of Energy, Department of War, and NASA.
“If the reports are accurate, these deaths and disappearances may represent a grave threat to US national security and to U.S. personnel with access to scientific secrets,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter sent to the agencies (seen by Fortune).
The FBI has confirmed that it is leading the effort. Director Kash Patel told Fox News, “We’re going to look for connections… on whether there are connections to classified access, access to classified information, and or foreign actors. If there are any connections that lead to nefarious conduct or conspiracy, the FBI will make the appropriate arrest.”
In a statement to Fortune, the FBI said it is “working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state and local law enforcement partners to find answers.”
The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration also acknowledged the situation, stating it “is aware of reports related to employees of our labs, plants and sites and is looking into the matter.” NASA said it is cooperating with authorities, noting, “At this time, nothing related to NASA indicates a national security threat.”
Details of the Cases
The cases reported go back to 2022 and involve people who work for or are connected to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the California Institute of Technology, and other institutions connected to the military.
Some of the cases lawmakers talked about were the disappearances of JPL scientist Monica Reza in 2025 and retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland in 2026. The two had worked together before on an Air Force-funded project that used advanced materials for weapons systems and space vehicles.
JPL scientist Frank Maiwald died in 2024. In 2025, Los Alamos employees Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casias disappeared. Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair died earlier this year. Also among the missing or dead were a government contractor, Steven Garcia, and Jason Thomas, an executive with the pharmaceutical company Novartis.
Amy Eskridge, a researcher from Alabama who died in 2022, has recently been included in the broader list, though authorities have not confirmed any connection between her case and others.
Several of the individuals were involved in specialised areas such as planetary defence, nuclear research, and aerospace systems tied to programs involving companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. These firms have received federal contracts for national security launches and missile defence systems, including projects linked to satellite constellations and planetary defence technologies.
Lawmakers noted that the field is relatively small, with only a limited number of experts working on areas such as asteroid detection and deflection. This has added to concerns about whether the pattern is coincidental.
Expert Opinions and Ongoing Investigation
A former FBI official, Chris Swecker, said the pattern aligns with tactics used by “several foreign powers,” including “abducting, blackmailing, torturing, and even killing” scientists to gain intelligence. However, officials have not confirmed any link between the cases or evidence of coordinated activity.
Joe Masiero, a scientist at Caltech, told Newsweek, “It’s really unfortunate to see a tragedy played out over and over again.” As investigations continue, authorities have emphasised that conclusions have not yet been reached, but multiple agencies are now examining the cases together to determine whether any connections exist.
