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Ex-Officials Warn Patel’s FBI Reassignments Are Gutting Counterintelligence

Congress is weighing a plan to move counterintelligence oversight to the director of national intelligence.

Overview

  • Recent reporting cites 23% of FBI agents reassigned to immigration cases, with nearly 40% in major field offices, redirecting specialists from spy-hunting work.
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi ended the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force and scaled back FARA enforcement, curtailing key tools used to detect foreign influence.
  • Former counterintelligence leaders Robert Anderson and Frank Montoya Jr. say the shifts leave the U.S. less prepared to counter threats from China, Iran, and Russia.
  • The House bill to place counterintelligence under DNI Tulsi Gabbard faces resistance, with ODNI now stating she opposes the legislation after early interest.
  • Internal dissent has surfaced in reports calling the bureau a “rudderless ship,” while the White House rejects claims that President Trump is considering replacing Director Kash Patel.