The Internal Effects of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Reprioritization

Audit Report 04-39
September 2004
Office of the Inspector General


Redacted and Unclassified

Chapter 2: Reprioritizing the FBI


On May 21, 2002, the FBI Director issued an e mail to all FBI employees containing the new ranking of Top Ten Priorities, which formally refocused the FBI's mission. The following chart contains the May 2002 priorities as well as the FBI investigative programs to which each primarily applies.

EXHIBIT 2-1
FBI TOP TEN PRIORITIES AND RELATED PROGRAMS

  Priorities Related FBI Programs
1. Protect the United States from terrorist attack.
  • International Terrorism10
  • Domestic Terrorism
2. Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage.
  • Foreign Counterintelligence10
3. Protect the United States against cyber based attacks and high technology crimes.
  • Cyber Crime
  • Computer Intrusion
4. Combat public corruption at all levels.
  • Public Corruption11
5. Protect civil rights.
  • Civil Rights
6. Combat transnational and national criminal organizations and enterprises.
  • Organized Crime/Drugs
  • Criminal Enterprise Investigations
7. Combat major white collar crime.
  • White Collar Crime
8. Combat significant violent crime.
  • Violent Crime/Major Offenders
9. Support federal, state, county, municipal, and international partners. All Programs
10. Upgrade technology to successfully perform the FBI's mission. All Programs
Source: Director's memorandum dated May 21, 2002

The Director described the top three priorities on the list as being the FBI's most critical challenges and the ones that would require the FBI to change its operational goals. The wording of these priorities highlights that the most important goals for the FBI are protection and prevention, a change from its traditional focus as a more reactive law enforcement agency. Priorities four through eight are more traditional law enforcement functions, which encompass much of the FBI's historical investigative activities and which have remained primarily under the direction of the Criminal Investigative Division. Priorities nine and ten were designated as the critical infrastructure to support all of the FBI's investigative operations.

Funded Staffing Levels

The means by which the FBI's priorities are most directly translated into operation is via the establishment of Funded Staffing Levels (FSLs), the method by which the FBI allocates its personnel resources. As a reflection of the shift in priorities, the FBI stated that it would change the number of agents it had allocated to certain programs. For example, the events of 9/11 caused the Director to reevaluate current practices and reallocate a significant number of agent positions to terrorism-related areas. We reviewed this reallocation by comparing the FSL levels in FY 2000 to the levels in FY 2003.12 Identifying the FSL changes indicated whether the FBI was, in fact, adjusting its human resource planning to meet its new objectives.

Resource Allocation Process

Field Offices - In general, the FBI allocates its agent resources to the field by establishing FSLs within each of its program areas. One FSL equates to one funded employee, or one full time equivalent (FTE). This means that the FBI manager in charge of a program has a specific number of personnel to divide among the 56 field offices. The FBI Resource Management and Allocation (RMA) Office, with input from the Director, Headquarters' program managers, and SACs, is responsible for establishing the allocations annually as part of the budget planning and execution process. The FBI sets FSLs by program only for non supervisory agents in FBI field offices. Supervisory agent personnel are allocated to field offices in one lump sum as "management," while support personnel are allocated to field offices as clerical/administrative, investigative, or technical types of support.

FBI Headquarters - In general, Headquarters personnel are in administrative positions. Therefore, the FBI does not allocate Headquarters agent or support positions by investigative programs. Instead, Headquarters FSLs for both agents and support are allocated according to organizational divisions (e.g., the Criminal Investigative Division, Counterterrorism Division, and Finance Division).13 In part, these organizational divisions encompass the various programs to which FSLs are allocated in the field. For instance, the Criminal Investigative Division oversees, among others, the Organized Crime/Drug and Violent Crime/Major Offenders programs.

Data Collection

We obtained FSL data for FYs 2000 through 2003 FSLs for the FBI's Headquarters and field office personnel, which was further divided between agent and support positions.14 We analyzed this information and discuss it in the following sections. It should be noted that the FBI experienced an overall decline in its FSLs from FYs 2000 to 2001. According to an FBI official, this reduction was primarily a result of a mandate issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which has become known as the "hollow work year" issue. In short, OMB believed that the FBI did not have sufficient money to fund its level of authorized positions. Therefore, during FY 2001 (but prior to 9/11), OMB ordered the FBI to reduce its reported numbers of funded positions. The FBI adhered to this mandate and cut both agent and support funded positions within Headquarters and field offices (although the majority of the reductions occurred in positions allocated to field offices). In doing this, no employees were terminated. Instead, all cuts took the form of the elimination of existing unfilled vacancies.

Overall FSL Analysis

The Headquarters and field office FSLs for our review period are noted in Exhibit 2 2. The combined total of 27,484 positions for FY 2003 reflects an increase of 243 compared to those allocated in FY 2000. As shown, significantly more personnel are assigned to field offices than FBI Headquarters. From FYs 2000 through 2003, field offices had approximately twice as many positions as those allocated to Headquarters.

EXHIBIT 2-2
COMPOSITION OF FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS
FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2003

 FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
Total 27,241 25,925 26,534 27,484
   Agent 11,296 10,785 10,800 11,255
   Support 15,945 15,140 15,734 16,229
Field Office FSL Subtotal 18,439 17,516 17,810 18,197
   Agent15 10,474 9,981 10,022 10,124
   Support 7,965 7,535 7,788 8,073
Headquarters FSL Subtotal 8,802 8,409 8,724 9,287
   Agent 822 804 778 1,131
   Support 7,980 7,605 7,946 8,156
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource Management and Allocation Office data

FBI Field Offices

As noted in Exhibit 2-2, the FBI allocated 18,439 of its personnel resources to its field offices during FY 2000 and 18,197 during FY 2003. Thus, there was a slight decrease in the number of funded positions in the field during this time period, amounting to a reduction of 242 positions. As previously mentioned, the FBI allocates its non supervisory field agents by particular program areas and its field support personnel by the type of support they provide. Exhibit 2 3 provides a detailed account of how these agent and support FSLs were allocated from FYs 2000 through 2003.

EXHIBIT 2-3
COMPOSITION OF FIELD OFFICE FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS
FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2003

 FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
Field Office FSL Total 18,439 17,516 17,810 18,197
 
Field Agent FSL Subtotal 10,474 9,981 10,022 10,124
   White-Collar Crime Program 2,460 2,404 2,210 2,303
   Organized Crime/Drug Program 2,279 2,078 1,511 1,521
   Violent Crime/Major Offenders Program 2,004 1,821 1,006 1,009
   National Foreign Intelligence Program CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED
   Management 1,073 1,098 1,111 1,131
   Domestic Terrorism 439 434 518 505
   National Infrastructure Protection/Computer
   Intrusion Program16
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED
   Civil Rights Program 153 153 153 153
   Applicants Program 132 121 79 79
   Training Program 131 91 90 90
   Criminal Enterprise Investigations Program N/A N/A 650 701
   Cyber Crime Program N/A N/A 269 268
   Technically Trained Agents N/A N/A N/A 38
   Evidence Response Teams N/A N/A N/A 20
Field Support FSL Subtotal 7,965 7,535 7,788 8,073
   Clerical/Administrative 3,987 3,852 3,940 3,960
   Investigative 2,822 2,612 2,703 2,957
   Technical 1,156 1,071 1,145 1,156
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource Management and Allocation Office data

In FY 2003, the FBI's 56 field offices ranged in size from as large as 1,972 funded positions (New York City) to as small as 71 funded positions (Anchorage). In terms of funded positions, the FBI's five largest field offices were New York City, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. Combined, these offices represented over 30 percent of the total resources allocated to the field. Exhibit 2 4 provides a list of the total FSLs allocated to each field office and FBI Headquarters for FYs 2000 and FY 2003.

EXHIBIT 2-4
AGENT AND SUPPORT FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS
FOR FBI FIELD OFFICES AND FBI HEADQUARTERS
FISCAL YEARS 2000 AND 2003

LOCATIONFY 2000 AGENTS FY 2003 AGENTS CHANGE FY 2000 SUPPORT FY 2003 SUPPORT CHANGE
FIELD OFFICES:
NEW YORK CITY 1,156 1,071 -85 935 901 -34
LOS ANGELES 695 674 -21 448 456 8
WASHINGTON 662 711 49 702 725 23
CHICAGO 454 432 -22 309 304 -5
MIAMI 419 408 -11 287 286 -1
SAN FRANCISCO 360 353 -7 265 275 10
NEWARK 353 326 -27 217 212 -5
PHILADELPHIA 314 273 -41 206 198 -8
HOUSTON 306 276 -30 233 254 21
BOSTON 259 242 -17 174 173 -1
DALLAS 254 227 -27 206 198 -8
ATLANTA 250 214 -36 177 183 6
DETROIT 235 234 -1 167 172 5
SAN DIEGO 233 218 -15 158 170 12
PHOENIX 229 212 -17 130 146 16
BALTIMORE 211 199 -12 178 177 -1
SAN ANTONIO 200 189 -11 147 149 2
SAN JUAN 177 164 -13 109 106 -3
CLEVELAND 169 166 -3 131 121 -10
SALT LAKE CITY 168 146 -22 138 134 -4
NEW ORLEANS 160 153 -7 104 104 0
TAMPA 153 145 -8 109 114 5
DENVER 137 139 2 104 117 13
KANSAS CITY 137 133 -4 103 102 -1
PITTSBURGH 132 134 2 101 99 -2
SEATTLE 131 130 -1 106 119 13
EL PASO 130 112 -18 88 84 -4
OKLAHOMA CITY 128 124 -4 102 99 -3
SACRAMENTO 127 130 3 88 93 5
CHARLOTTE 117 114 -3 82 87 5
MINNEAPOLIS 115 115 0 83 88 5
LAS VEGAS 109 111 2 82 85 3
NEW HAVEN 104 103 -1 75 75 0
ALBUQUERQUE 101 98 -3 77 84 7
INDIANAPOLIS 92 94 2 73 75 2
PORTLAND 92 108 16 64 74 10
BUFFALO 91 107 16 79 89 10
MEMPHIS 90 88 -2 65 64 -1
HONOLULU 83 84 1 68 67 -1
MILWAUKEE 81 82 1 67 71 4
CINCINNATI 79 79 0 67 66 -1
ST. LOUIS 77 80 3 70 67 -3
LOUISVILLE 75 74 -1 67 65 -2
ALBANY 74 72 -2 62 60 -2
KNOXVILLE 73 69 -4 60 68 8
COLUMBIA 72 70 -2 57 58 1
BIRMINGHAM 71 74 3 63 64 1
JACKSONVILLE 71 76 5 65 64 -1
JACKSON 70 67 -3 52 54 2
RICHMOND 69 67 -2 57 56 -1
OMAHA 68 78 10 60 64 4
LITTLE ROCK 63 67 4 59 58 -1
NORFOLK 61 62 1 54 62 8
SPRINGFIELD 59 61 2 51 49 -2
MOBILE 54 55 1 50 51 1
ANCHORAGE 24 34 10 34 37 3
TOTAL FIELD OFFICES10,474 10,124 -350 7,965 8,073 108
HEADQUARTERS822 1,131 309 7,980 8,156 176
GRAND TOTAL11,296 11,255 -41 15,945 16,229 284
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource Management and Resource Allocation Office data

Field Agent Positions - Exhibit 2-5 highlights the resources allocated for field agents during our review period. As shown, the total agent positions allocated to FBI field offices ranged from 10,474 in FY 2000 to 10,124 in FY 2003, reflecting a decrease of 350 funded positions. Except for a single year decrease from FY 2000 to FY 2001, the number of agents allocated to field offices has increased in each subsequent fiscal year.

EXHIBIT 2-5
FIELD AGENT FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS
FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2003
17

In FY 2000, there were 10,474 field agents funded. In FY 2001, there were 9,981 field agents funded. In FY 2002, there were 10,022 field agents funded. In FY 2003, there were 10,124 field agents funded.
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource Management and Allocation Office data

Because the FBI's primary reason for transforming itself was to combat terrorism, we compared non supervisory field agent resources allocated for matters related to terrorism to those allocated for non terrorism work.18 Exhibit 2-6 illustrates what has occurred in each of these areas during our review period. In line with its shift in priorities, the FBI assigned additional non supervisory field agent positions for terrorism related matters and fewer agent resources for non terrorism related matters.19 In fact, the number of allocated positions for terrorism related matters has risen from FYs 2000 to 2002, with a slight decrease from FYs 2002 to 2003. In turn, the non-terrorism related agent staffing levels declined from FY 2000 to FY 2002, with a slight increase from FYs 2002 to 2003.

EXHIBIT 2-6
COMPOSITION OF NON-SUPERVISORY FIELD AGENT
FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS
FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2003

In FY 2000, the staffing level was 2,242 for terrorism related and 7,159 for non-terrorism related. In FY 2001, the staffing level was 2,215 for terrorism related and 6,668 for non-terrorism related. In FY 2002, the staffing level was 2,943 for terrorism related and 5,968 for non-terrorism related. In FY 2003, the staffing level was  2,811 for terrorism related and 6,124 for non-terrorism related.
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource Management and Allocation Office data

The figures in Exhibit 2 6 provide the totals for the broad areas to which non supervisory field agents were allocated, while Exhibit 2 7 provides a more in depth look. This data is separated according to the various programs to which the FBI allocates field agent positions. As with Exhibit 2 6, we excluded field office management from this analysis because the FBI does not allocate supervisory agent positions among the various programs in the field.

EXHIBIT 2-7
ALLOCATION OF NON-SUPERVISORY FIELD AGENTS
FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2003

  FUNDED COMPONENT FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
TERRORISM
RELATED
Foreign Counterintelligence CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED
International Terrorism
Domestic Terrorism
National Infrastructure
Protection/Computer Intrusion20
Security
SUBTOTAL 2,242 2,215 2,943 2,811
NON-TERRORISM
RELATED
White-Collar Crime 2,460 2,404 2,210 2,303
Violent Crimes and Major Offenders 2,004 1,821 1,006 1,009
Organized Crime/Drugs 1,746 1,590 1,023 1,033
Criminal Enterprise Investigations21 N/A N/A 650 701
OCDETF22 533 488 488 488
Civil Rights 153 153 153 153
Applicant Matters 132 121 79 79
Training 131 91 90 90
Cyber Crime23 N/A N/A 269 268
SUBTOTAL 7,159 6,668 5,968 6,124
  OVERALL TOTALS 9,401 8,883 8,911 8,935
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource Management and Allocation Office data

As can be seen in Exhibits 2-6 and 2-7, the overall reduction in field agent positions occurred in non terrorism related programs. These areas experienced an overall decrease of 1,035 agent positions from FYs 2000 to 2003, a change of 14 percent. Specifically, the funded components that fall under the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) lost more than 1,200 agent positions during our review period, which equates to a decline of almost 20 percent.24 While most of these funded positions lost from CID programs were moved to terrorism related work, some were redirected to the Cyber Division (i.e., the Computer Intrusion and Cyber Crime Programs) in FY 2002.

Conversely, the overall number of non supervisory field agent positions allocated to terrorism related matters increased significantly from FYs 2000 to 2003. More than 560 additional funded positions were allocated to these areas in FY 2003, an increase of 25 percent. In particular, the number of allocated agent positions [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED].

Using data from Exhibit 2 7, we examined FSL changes during our review period at the program level and developed a graphical representation, which is presented in Exhibit 2 8. As shown, the combination of the White Collar Crime and Organized Crime/Drug programs accounted for more than half of the FBI's allocated non supervisory field agent positions during FY 2000. By FY 2003, however, the greatest number of allocated positions resided within the White Collar Crime and National Foreign Intelligence (NFIP) programs. Additionally, although it appears that the percentage of FBI funded agent positions encompassed by VCMO declined by approximately ten percent between FYs 2000 and 2003, this is not the case. In FY 2002, the FBI removed several sub programs from VCMO and placed them into the newly established Criminal Enterprise Investigations Program (CEI), which deals with violent criminal enterprises. Thus, a portion of VCMO agent resources was transferred to CEI. When combined, the percentage of FBI agent resources devoted to violent crime matters dropped by only two percent.

EXHIBIT 2-8
NON-SUPERVISORY FIELD AGENT FUNDED STAFFING LEVEL
ALLOCATIONS BY PROGRAM
FISCAL YEARS 2000 AND 2003
25

CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED
FISCAL YEAR 2000FISCAL YEAR 2003
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource Management and Allocation Office data

Field Support Positions - Based upon the data obtained from the FBI, FSLs for support resources in the field totaled 7,965 in FY 2000. In FY 2003, the total number of FSLs was 8,073, an increase of 108 positions since FY 2000. Exhibit 2 9 provides an overview of the total positions allocated to the field for support personnel.

As noted, in contrast to field agent positions, which are allocated at the program level, FSLs for field support personnel are divided into three categories: Clerical/Administrative, Investigative, or Technical. From the data collected by the FBI, it is not possible to determine if support personnel are working in areas that are terrorism or non terrorism related. However, we reviewed how the FBI allocated resources to its three support categories in each fiscal year of our review period and found very little change. As shown in Exhibit 2-9, on average approximately half of the support positions in the field were comprised of Clerical/Administrative positions. Another 35 percent were allocated to the Investigative category, which includes positions such as special surveillance groups and language specialists. The remaining 15 percent were assigned to the Technical area, which includes positions such as electronics technicians.

EXHIBIT 2-9
FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS FOR FIELD SUPPORT CATEGORIES
FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2003

In FY 2000, there were 3,987 Clerical/Administrative positions, 2,822 Investigative positions and 1,156 Technical positions. In FY 2001, there were 3,852 Clerical/Administrative positions, 2,612 Investigative positions and 1,071 Technical positions. In FY 2002, there were 3,940 Clerical/Administrative positions, 2,703 Investigative positions and 1,145 Technical positions. In FY 2003, there were 3,960 Clerical/Administrative positions, 2,957 Investigative positions and 1,156 Technical positions.
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource Management and Allocation Office data

FBI Headquarters

Headquarters agent and support personnel are allocated by divisions or offices, and in FY 2000 the FBI allocated 8,802 FSLs to these Headquarters components (about 30 percent of the FBI's total resources). Since that time, the resources allotted for Headquarters personnel have grown by 485 positions. As mentioned earlier, Headquarters' FSLs can be further broken down into agent and support personnel.

Headquarters Agent Positions - There was not a significant change in the number of agent positions allocated to FBI Headquarters between FYs 2000 and 2002. However, there was a significant increase during FY 2003 when the number of allocated agent resources expanded from 778 in FY 2002 to 1,131 in FY 2003. Thus, from FYs 2000 to 2003, the number of Headquarters agent positions increased by 309 positions, or nearly 40 percent.

EXHIBIT 2-10
ALLOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS AGENTS
FISCAL YEARS 2000 AND 2003

HEADQUARTERS COMPONENTFY 2000
FSL
FY 2003
FSL
FSL
CHANGE
PERCENT
CHANGE
Criminal Investigative Division 144 154 10 7
Laboratory Division 139 66 -73 -53
Counterterrorism Division CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED
Training & Development Division 102 124 22 22
Counterintelligence Division CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED
Office of International Operations 57 17 -40 -70
Inspection Division 30 29 -1 -3
Office of Professional Responsibility 28 25 -3 -11
Administrative Services Division 27 21 -6 -22
Information Resources Division 20 2 -18 -90
Office of the General Counsel 18 20 2 11
Criminal Justice Information Services Division 17 12 -5 -29
Office of Public Affairs 17 18 1 6
Finance Division 11 8 -3 -27
Director's Office 5 10 5 100
Office of EEO Affairs 5 4 -1 -20
Cyber Division26 N/A 48 48 N/A
Investigative Technology26 N/A 104 104 N/A
Records Management Division26 N/A 2 2 N/A
Security Division26 N/A 63 63 N/A
TOTALS 822 1,131 309 38%
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource and Management Allocation Office data

Exhibit 2-10 shows the allocation of agent positions to Headquarters divisions for FYs 2000 and 2003, along with the corresponding changes over this time period. From this data, we noted that the FBI enhanced its agent staffing levels in those divisions with a direct connection to its new, terrorism-focused priorities. For instance, the Counterterrorism Division experienced an increase [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED]. Furthermore, the Counterintelligence Division was allocated [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED]. In turn, the FBI reduced the level of agent resources allocated to other divisions. For example, the Laboratory Division's FSLs decreased by 73 agent positions from FYs 2000 to 2003, a reduction of more than 50 percent. However, according to an FBI official, a portion of these positions were moved from the Laboratory Division to the Investigative Technology Division, which was established during FY 2003.

In terms of composition, based upon the FSL data the Counterterrorism Division was the largest FBI Headquarters Division during FY 2003, accounting for 20 percent of the total resources allocated for Headquarters agent personnel. From FYs 2000 to 2002, the Criminal Investigative Division was the largest FBI Headquarters division. From this perspective, the FBI has focused its FSL allocations according to its priorities.

Headquarters Support Positions - Unlike the FSLs for Headquarters agents, the total allotted positions for support personnel within FBI Headquarters did not significantly change from FYs 2000 to 2003. Over this time period, these resources increased by 176 positions, a growth of only 2 percent. However, as shown in Exhibit 2 11, the composition of Headquarters support positions did change to reflect the FBI's new priorities.

Similar to Exhibit 2 10, Exhibit 2 11 shows the allocation of support personnel positions to Headquarters divisions for FYs 2000 and 2003, along with the corresponding changes over this time period. These changes indicate the FBI also allocated its support staffing levels in accordance with terrorism driven priorities. For example, the Counterterrorism Division was allotted [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED], while the Counterintelligence Division received [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED]. At the same time, several new components were created and allocated support positions, including the Cyber Division and the Records Management Division. In turn, the FBI reduced the level of resources allocated to other divisions. Notably, the Office of Public and Congressional Affairs (OPCA) experienced the greatest reduction of support positions within any Headquarters component, a decline of 680 positions. However, according to an FBI official, the majority of these positions were from the Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts Section, which was moved from OPCA to the Records Management Division during FY 2002.

EXHIBIT 2-11
ALLOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS SUPPORT PERSONNEL
FISCAL YEARS 2000 AND 2003

HEADQUARTERS COMPONENTFY 2000
FSL
FY 2003
FSL
NUMBER
CHANGE
PERCENT
CHANGE
Criminal Justice Information Services Division 2,974 2,512 -462 -16
Laboratory Division 949 610 -339 -36
Office of Public & Congressional Affairs 766 86 -680 -89
Information Resources Division 753 572 -181 -24
Administrative Services Division 726 604 -122 -17
Finance Division 359 323 -36 -10
Training & Development Division 334 269 -65 -19
Investigative Services Division27 297 N/A -297 -100
Counterintelligence Division CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED
Counterterrorism Division CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED
Office of the General Counsel 152 176 24 16
Criminal Investigative Division 143 194 51 36
Inspection Division 66 63 -3 -5
Office of Professional Responsibility 41 39 -2 -5
Director's Office 26 44 18 69
Office of EEO Affairs 23 22 -1 -4
Cyber Division28 N/A 45 45 N/A
Office of International Operations28 N/A 84 84 N/A
Investigative Technology28 N/A 514 514 N/A
Records Management Division28 N/A 851 851 N/A
Security Division28 N/A 556 556 N/A
TOTALS 7,980 8,156 176 2%
Source: OIG analysis of FBI Resource and Management Allocation Office data

Chapter Summary

A significant part of the FBI's transformation plans included allocating its funded positions (or FSLs) in accordance with its new priorities. Based upon our analysis of the data, we found that the FBI had, in fact, deployed its FSLs according to its new priorities in both the funded positions allocated to field programs and those allocated to Headquarters divisions.

Within field offices, the FBI increased the number of agent positions it allocated for terrorism related matters. More than 560 additional funded positions were allocated to these types of areas in FY 2003 compared to FY 2000, an increase of 25 percent. In particular, the number of allocated agent positions [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED]. In turn, 1,035 fewer agent positions were allotted for non terrorism related matters. Specifically, the resources allocated to various programs within the Criminal Investigative Division dropped by almost 20 percent.

Similar changes occurred within FBI Headquarters as the FBI enhanced its Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence divisions by allotting additional agent and support resources to each. In particular, the Counterterrorism Division's FSLs increased [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED] in both agent and support positions, while the Counterintelligence Division experienced a growth [CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REDACTED] in its allocated agent resources from FY 2000 to FY 2003. We further noted that while the FBI added a relatively small number of positions (10 agents and 51 support personnel) to the Criminal Investigative Division, it also reduced the agent and support resources to some Headquarters divisions, such as the FBI Laboratory.


Footnotes

  1. This is a sub program within the National Foreign Intelligence Program.

  2. This is a sub program within the White Collar Crime Program.

  3. We utilized final adjusted FSL values, provided by the FBI's Resource Management and Allocation Office, for each of our analyses involving FSLs.

  4. An organizational chart that includes all FBI divisions is found in Appendix IV.

  5. The FBI's FSL data did not include the positions allocated for specialized entities that are not a part of the field offices or FBI Headquarters (e.g., the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungary; Legal Attaché Offices; and the Critical Incident Response Group).

  6. The field agent FSLs include positions allocated for supervisory agents within field offices.

  7. In FY 2003, the FBI did not allocate field agent positions for National Infrastructure Protection, only the Computer Intrusion Program.

  8. Agent FSLs in this exhibit include those allocated for management positions within field offices.

  9. We categorized FBI activities as being related to terrorism based on the program in which the work is captured. We considered terrorism related work to be captured in the National Foreign Intelligence, Domestic Terrorism, and National Infrastructure Protection/Computer Intrusion programs.

  10. In FY 2003, the FBI allocated 58 non-supervisory field agent positions to two new categories: Evidence Response Teams (ERTs) and Technically Trained Agents (TTAs). According to FBI officials, agents within these two categories provide investigative support to all program areas. Thus, we excluded these positions from our comparisons of terrorism-related and non terrorism related funded positions.

  11. In FY 2003, the National Infrastructure Protection Center, which had been a part of the FBI's National Infrastructure/Computer Intrusion Program, was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security.

  12. The FBI established the Criminal Enterprise Investigations Program during FY 2002 and began allocating field agent positions to this area in that fiscal year.

  13. The Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program is a coordinated effort of nine federal agencies The FBI's budget specifically earmarks positions for this purpose and identifies them as reimbursable resources.

  14. The FBI established the Cyber Division in FY 2002 and began allocating field agent positions to its two components, Computer Intrusion and Cyber Crime, at that time.

  15. The components in Exhibit 2-7 that fall under CID are White Collar Crime, Violent Crime/Major Offenders, Organized Crime/Drugs, Criminal Enterprise Investigations, OCDETF, and Civil Rights.

  16. NFIP consists of the Foreign Counterintelligence, Security, and International Terrorism sub programs. OC/D includes Organized Crime, Drugs, and OCDETF.

  17. No agent positions were allocated to this division during FY 2000.

  18. No support personnel positions were allocated to this division during FY 2003; it was disbanded in the FBI's post-9/11 reorganization.

  19. No support personnel positions were allocated to this division during FY 2000.

Redacted and Unclassified