National Security Branch
The FBI created the National Security Branch (NSB) in September 2005 in response to a presidential directive to establish a “National Security Service” that combines the missions, capabilities, and resources of the FBI’s national security elements under the leadership of a senior FBI official.
Mission: Protect the national security of the United States.
Vision: Blend resources across all national security components to work together; normalize integration, training, and sharing; and seize upon every opportunity to disrupt and defeat our enemies as a joint team.
Structure of the NSB
The traditional distinction between national security and criminal matters is increasingly blurred as terrorists commit crimes to finance their activities and computer hackers create vulnerabilities that can be exploited.The integration of intelligence and investigations makes the FBI uniquely situated to address these threats and vulnerabilities across programs. We draw on both intelligence and law enforcement tools to determine strategically where and when to disrupt threats, and the NSB’s five components work together to accomplish the Branch’s overarching national security mission.
Counterintelligence
The FBI is the lead agency for exposing, preventing, and investigating intelligence activities, including espionage, on U.S. soil and uses its investigative and intelligence capabilities--as well as strategic partnerships--to pursue spies.
Terrorism
To counter terrorism, the FBI's top investigative priority, we use our investigative and intelligence capabilities to neutralize domestic extremists and help dismantle terrorist networks worldwide.
High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group
The FBI administers an interagency body called the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG) that brings together personnel from the U.S. Intelligence Community to conduct lawful interrogations that strengthen national security.
Terrorist Screening Center
Born out of the events of September 11, 2001 and created in 2003, the Terrorist Screening Center maintains the U.S. government’s consolidated Terrorist Watchlist—a single database of identifying information about those known to be (or reasonably suspected of being) involved in terrorist activity. By supporting the ability of front-line screening agencies to positively identify known or suspected terrorists trying to obtain visas, enter the country, board aircraft, or engage in other activity, the consolidated Terrorist Watchlist is one of the most effective counterterrorism tools for the U.S. government.
WMD
The FBI created the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Directorate in 2006 to support a cohesive and coordinated approach to incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) material. The Directorate leads U.S. government efforts to prevent and neutralize WMD threats against the homeland and interests abroad by focusing on outreach, intelligence, operational response, and investigative capabilities designed to keep WMD threats from becoming a reality.
- 03.04.2021 — Northern Colorado Man Pleads Guilty for Possessing Pipe Bombs
- 03.04.2021 — Orange County Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Threatening to Attack School
- 03.04.2021 — Phoenix Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Planning to Release Stolen Radiological Materials in Scottsdale and Payson
- 03.04.2021 — Federal Gun and Drug Charges Added to Indictment Accusing Suburban Chicago Man of Attempting to Support ISIS
- 03.03.2021 — Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS
- 02.26.2021 — Southern Colorado Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Plotting to Blow Up Synagogue
- 02.26.2021 — Arizona Man Charged for Immigration Scheme Targeting Chinese Nationals
- 02.25.2021 — Las Vegas Man Charged with Mailing White Powder to the New York State Gaming Commission
- 02.25.2021 — Former Air Force Contractor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Taking 2,500 Pages of Classified Information
- 02.24.2021 — Bremerton, Washington Man Charged Federally for Possession of Unregistered Destructive Devices
