Objectives

            The primary objectives of the audit were to determine the extent to which the FBI:  1) identified impediments to the sharing of counterterrorism-related intelligence and other information, 2) has improved its ability to share intelligence and other information both within the FBI and to the intelligence community and state and local law enforcement agencies, and 3) is providing useful threat and intelligence information to other law enforcement agencies.

Scope and Methodology

            The audit was performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, and included tests and procedures necessary to accomplish the audit objectives.  Generally our audit focused on the FBI’s efforts to improve the dissemination of intelligence and other information from September 2001 through September 2003.

            In conducting this audit, OIG staff interviewed or received briefings from the Executive Assistant Director for Intelligence, the current and former Assistant Director of the FBI’s Office of Intelligence, and senior managers in the Counterterrorism Division, including the Assistant Director at the time, the three Deputy Assistant Directors, eight Section Chiefs, and four Unit Chiefs.  OIG staff interviewed or obtained briefings from FBI managers responsible for information technology improvements, the monitoring of re-engineering projects, and coordination with state and local law enforcement agencies.  In addition, we analyzed samples of formal FBI intelligence and other information products disseminated to the intelligence community and to state and local law enforcement agencies.  We also obtained and reviewed FBI documents on the flow of intelligence, staffing of intelligence analysts, re-engineering projects, state and local law enforcement coordination, IT improvements, and other efforts designed to improve information sharing.  OIG staff also interviewed representatives of the Central Intelligence Agency who were detailed to the FBI as managers in the Counterterrorism Division.  In addition, we reviewed congressional testimony and the reports of counterterrorism commissions dealing in part with intelligence and information sharing.

            To avoid duplicating other ongoing audit work, we restricted our audit scope to information and personnel available at FBI headquarters.  Consequently, we did not perform audit work at, or interview officials of, intelligence agencies, state and local law enforcement agencies, JTTFs, FBI field offices, or others.  However, we did interview selected intelligence agency officials assigned to FBI headquarters.