According to Bloomberg's report on July 7th, according to US government officials and insiders, during more than a month this summer, there were unusually high rates of military suicides among US military cyber warfare units. Relevant departments are investigating this matter.
According to military internal communications, public records, and sources who preferred to remain anonymous, from early June to early July, as many as five people within the U.S. Cyber Command and those working closely with them committed suicide. These sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about this matter.
Two people familiar with the matter said that in June, the head of the Cyber Command reported three cases of suicide in a email sent to all employees. Public records show that two more suicides occurred afterward.
These suicide incidents have caused concern among U.S. congressmen and senior officials of the U.S. Cyber Command. The incidents have also rekindled long-standing concerns among officials. Over the past year, military network operators have faced an increased workload due to conflicts overseas, and their mental health conditions are concerning.
It is reported that the U.S. Cyber Command is responsible for protecting U.S. computer systems and launching cyber attacks against foreign adversaries. The total number of employees in this department is not publicly disclosed, but the command claims that its core team consists of over 6,000 people, and most of their work is classified. In March of this year, U.S. officials publicly acknowledged the Cyber Command’s role in destroying Iranian networks during the U.S-Iran war.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that suicides rarely result from a single event or situation. The military is investigating at least one of the recent deaths to determine the details of the incident. Neither the autopsy reports nor some of those familiar with the deceased can identify the exact cause behind these suicides.
Most members of the Cyber Command staff are located far from physical battlefields and carry out highly confidential work. Miares, a former NSA employee and psychologist, conducted interviews with 50 US military cyber operators in 2025 and completed a research report. He stated that some of the practitioners suffer from insomnia, memory decline, frequent thoughts, and various physical illnesses. Miares mentioned that this report, funded by the Army, has not been released to the public for security reasons.
A person familiar with the matter revealed that the successive deaths have led the Cyber Command to classify these incidents as "suicidal gatherings." The Pentagon defines such incidents as situations where the density of suicides is abnormally high, and it requires special response measures.
A government official and other insiders stated that, due to factors such as the United States' war against Iran and other foreign conflicts, the workload of the Cyber Command has increased significantly this year. At the same time, the adversarial process involving artificial intelligence models has further accelerated the pace of work. These new types of artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly capable of infiltrating computer systems.
The 2023 fiscal year Defense Authorization Act states that since the establishment of the Cyber Command in 2010, key positions have been facing a long-term shortage of skilled personnel. Andrew Shocka, who served in this position for seven years, described that under the working conditions of this unit, it is difficult for employees to take vacations or seek help, resulting in a high rate of staff turnover.
“Crisis always exists, and all tasks are of the highest priority,” said Shoko. “The rate at which personnel are exhausted is faster than the rate at which we can train new people.”
Both the Cyber Command and the National Security Agency headquarters are located in Fort Meade, with personnel from both organizations deeply intertwined. Sources familiar with the situation indicate that staff members must work in windowless facilities, undergoing long, isolated shifts. Military records show that several individuals who have recently died have served both the National Security Agency and the Cyber Command.
A 2024 study conducted by the Pentagon on the mental health and work performance issues of military personnel involved in cyber operations found that there are numerous unique psychological problems among this group. The report recommended establishing dedicated psychological support teams within the entire military force. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that these recommendations have not been fully implemented.
The Pentagon’s latest suicide report also shows that in 2024, more than 23 out of every 100 military personnel served died by suicide. This number is almost twice the suicide rate among ordinary Americans. The report indicates that in 2024, 4 people died by suicide in positions related to “cyber warfare,” and 14 people died by suicide in positions related to “signal intelligence/electro-warfare.”
