Germany Moves to Unleash Its Spies as Russian Hybrid Threats Test Europe’s Security Order

Merz Government Backs Historic Expansion of BND Powers, Opening Door to Sabotage, Cyber Operations and More Aggressive Espionage

BERLIN | Germany is preparing for one of the most consequential overhauls of its intelligence apparatus since the end of World War II, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government moves to give the country’s spies sweeping new powers to confront Russian hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, sabotage and an increasingly uncertain global security environment.

The German cabinet on Wednesday approved reforms that would significantly expand the operational authority of the Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, and strengthen Germany's broader intelligence capabilities. The legislation must still clear parliament before taking effect, with implementation expected as early as 2027.

The shift represents more than a bureaucratic modernization. It signals a fundamental reassessment of how Germany intends to defend itself in an era in which espionage, cyberwarfare, drones and attacks on critical infrastructure increasingly blur the traditional boundaries between peace and armed conflict.

Under the proposed framework, German intelligence officers could gain authority to conduct offensive cyber operations, penetrate hostile computer systems, disrupt foreign operations and take more active measures against adversaries.

Those capabilities would mark a significant departure for a country whose intelligence services were deliberately constrained in the aftermath of Nazi rule.

Oz’s Medicaid Fraud Claims About California and Minnesota Lack Context

Announcing a pause on more than $1 billion in Medicaid funding to Minnesota and California last month, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz accused state officials of being too lax about fraud, citing, among other things, the results of a provider verification process in Minnesota and the rapid growth of a California home care program. But he left out important context in both cases.

Oz said at the July 21 press conference that Minnesota disenrolled 3,000 healthcare providers “who historically could send bills willy-nilly,” calling into question whether their previous claims were legitimate. Many of those providers, however, have said they were disenrolled in error as the state rushed to meet a federally imposed deadline. Most providers have appealed, and hundreds have been reinstated. The agency that runs Minnesota’s Medicaid program has said the verification process “was not a fraud determination.” 

Trump Overstates Magnitude of Noncitizen Voting in New Jersey

New Jersey’s governor announced that “a software error” in the state’s motor vehicle registration system resulted in 6,600 noncitizens being improperly added to the state’s voter registration list. The state’s preliminary investigation found that up to 400 votes were cast by noncitizens, far fewer than the “thousands of votes” claimed by President Donald Trump.

Trump has seized on the incident as validation of his longtime but unsupported claims about massive numbers of noncitizens voting.

“Well, you saw what happened, they caught thousands of votes in New Jersey where illegal aliens were allowed to vote,” Trump said on July 22, a day after New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, made the announcement. “Thousands and thousands of votes. They voted in favor of the transgender mutilization of your children and in favor of — in favor of men playing in women’s sports. Isn’t that lovely? They voted against lower energy prices, lower car prices, and bigger paychecks for everyone. They voted against every one of these things.”