FORT MEADE, MD — His financial stability rocked by furloughs, overtime cuts and stagnant promotions, NSA Senior Analyst Eric Delhugh was having trouble paying his bills. He considered himself a patriotic American but Delhugh was desperate.

He decided to sell secrets to a foreign government but was shocked to find no one was interested.

“I never imagined I would commit espionage against the United States,” Delhugh said, “but I was tired. It started with sequestration and then furloughs and then no budget. I just didn’t think it would ever end. It seemed like once a month we were preparing for another shut down.”

Sequestration pay cuts and the government shutdown pushed Delhugh to desperation.