Federal prosecutors are alleging that a former CIA official, accused of stealing millions of dollars after $40 million in gold bars was found in his home, simply created a top-secret program to skim the cash for him.
Reports have revealed he allegedly created a fraudulent “special access program,” one of the government’s most tightly controlled classifications that limits oversight by officials even if they have the highest security clearances, explains the Washington Examiner.
“He allegedly falsely presented the project as a highly sensitive continuity-of-government initiative, which is a type of emergency planning designed to ensure the federal government can continue operating during catastrophic events such as a nuclear attack,” the report explained.
The suspect in the case is David Rush, and WorldNetDaily reported when the manager for the agency, holding a top secret security clearance, was accused.
Authorities say they found $40 million worth of gold bars, $2 million in cash and dozens of very expensive exotic watches in his home.
The CIA said, “After a CIA internal investigation identified potential violations of the law, CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred the information to the FBI for a law enforcement investigation. The FBI is working closely with our partners at the CIA and the Department of Justice as we continue to investigate this matter fully. We are committed to following the facts, ensuring accountability, and pursuing justice in accordance with the law.”
The Washington Examiner reported that sources explained Rush “read in” two colleagues, granting them access to the fabricated program but preventing them from discussing it with others.
“The employees may have been unwitting participants in the scheme, with Rush persuading one of his colleagues to direct millions of dollars to the program through a fraudulent government contract,” the report said.
A judge has ordered Rush to be kept in custody, because of the risk he could flee.
🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: The CIA officer caught with $40 million in gold bars allegedly invented an entire fake top-secret spy program to steal the money.
As if this story couldn’t get and wilder:
-David Rush allegedly built a sham “special access program,” the blackest box in U.S.… pic.twitter.com/uwbkQQ0xlE
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 6, 2026
🚫 CIA officer caught with $NZ68M in Gold Bars accused of just randomly creating a fake top-secret spy program.
🧊Icebergs float in open water, and you can see only 10% of them. So imagine how much of a clandestine intelligence iceberg is actually visible.
David Rush is likely… pic.twitter.com/nG7fpCrJrB
— Neil Edwards (@njedwards19651) June 6, 2026
Exclusive: A former senior CIA official found with more than $40 million worth of gold bars in his house allegedly created a fake ‘black box’ spy program that he used to funnel money for his personal use, according to people familiar with the case. https://t.co/In8kCZUSXs
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 6, 2026
Investigators recovered 303 gold bars from his home.
Parts of the case even now remain under seal, the report said.
“The case has sent shockwaves through the intelligence community and comes as President Donald Trump has signaled support for reducing the number of employees working for U.S. intelligence agencies under incoming Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte,” the report said.
Reports also note that Rush’s resume and career also appear to have been fabricated, as he claimed to have graduated from Clemson, to having a graduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and to been at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, and a pilot in the Navy.
The report said none of that is true.
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. A former senior CIA OFFICER has been arrested on MASSIVE FRAUD, STEALING 300 gold bars and secretly stashing them, worth $40 MILLION — and using his position to do so
He had a top-secret security clearance
WOW.
“This was someone given currency [he] said needed… pic.twitter.com/U2N8h8mcp6
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 27, 2026
