FBI Testifies at 9/11 Commission Report Congressional Hearing
Congressional Hearing on the 9/11 Commission Report
FBI Testifies on Bureau Policies, Steps, and Reforms
08/04/04
Yesterday John Pistole, Executive Assistant Director of FBI Counterterrorism/ Counterintelligence, testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on FBI reforms—a hearing held in response to the 9-11 Commission’s publication of its final report and recommendations on July 22.
This was the first in a series of hearings in which the FBI will participate. And we will be sure to post all future statements as they become available.
We strongly encourage you to read the current statement in full. Your understanding and support of FBI policies, steps, and reforms designed to PREVENT TERRORIST ATTACKS are key to our success. Here are just a very few highlights of our report to Congress:
Since 9/11/2001, we...
- Made an 111% increase in special agents assigned to terrorism matters.
- Made an 86% increase in intelligence analysts.
- Made a 117% increase in linguists.
- Established, staffed, and are operating: a 24/7 Counterterrorism Watch; an interagency National Joint Terrorism Task Force that coordinates 84 interagency Joint Terrorism Task Forces in FBI field offices across the United States; a Terrorism Financing Operation Section; operational “Fly Teams“; an interagency Terrorism Screening Center; a Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force; a Terrorism Reports and Requirements Section; and a Counterterrorism Analysis Section.
- Established, staffed, and are operating an Enterprise-wide Intelligence Program based on Concepts of Operation in 9 core function areas...with Field Intelligence Groups (including other agency members) in every FBI field office.
- For intelligence and information sharing purposes, established the FBI Intelligence Bulletin, the FBI National Alert System, and the interagency Alert System; joined our partners at the Terrorist Threat Integration Center; and share widely with the Intelligence community through Reports, Assessments, and Bulletins.
- To strengthen international partnerships, expanded (and are continuing to expand) overseas Legal Attaché offices.
Links: Terrorism webpage | Intelligence Program