Statement of the FBI Regarding the Office of the Inspector General’s Report, “The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Efforts to Hire, Train, and Retain Intelligence Analysts”

Washington, D.C. -- Today the Office of the Inspector General released a report titled "The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Efforts to Hire, Train, and Retain Intelligence Analysts." The FBI made the following statement on this matter:

"Following the events of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Government was presented with a tremendous challenge to develop intelligence to prevent any such future attacks. For the FBI this meant a change in the method of handling threat information, expanding our intelligence capabilities and providing a broader dissemination of terrorist threat information. To expand our intelligence capabilities we have increased our collection regarding the threat, enhanced our analytical capabilities and improved our reporting operations to other members of the intelligence community and federal, state and local law enforcement.

"The Inspector General's review, which occurred early last year, reports that the FBI needs to improve its efforts to hire more analysts, ensure they are properly trained, and have measures in place to determine the success of retaining newly recruited personnel. Even prior to the Inspector General's review of our analyst program, the FBI had underway efforts to enhance and strengthen our analytical capabilities. The FBI created the Directorate of Intelligence to establish a structure to more fully integrate intelligence and operations and to provide centralized management of the Intelligence Program. The Directorate of Intelligence is an integrated, dedicated national intelligence workforce with the capability to address current and future national security and criminal threats to the United States.

"The FBI has made significant strides in increasing our analytical cadre and is expected to meet the hiring goal of 880 new analysts by the end of this year. Additional resources have been requested for recruitment and retention in our next budget.

"Specialized training has been instituted for Intelligence Analysts and intelligence training has been incorporated into new Agent training. This year we are looking to expand training sessions with our partners in the Intelligence Community and we are working on a fellows program to exchange staff with other federal agencies and the private sector.

"The FBI's efforts are to ensure an integrated intelligence service that leverages our traditional law enforcement efforts while ensuring no walls exist between collectors, analysts, and those who must act upon intelligence information."