As as the impasse continues over the crisis at the southern border and the government shutdown moves into its 21st day, cash reserves are not being replenished at the FBI.
Agents are not being paid, and funds for investigations are being prioritized to conserve cash – endangering the agency’s national security mission.
To highlight the growing crisis within the FBI, the FBI Agents Association released a petition urging the White House and Congress to immediately fund the FBI, on Thursday.
The petition signed by representatives of all FBI Agent Association field offices across the country warns of the effect of the continued government shutdown on Agents and their work.
The petition urges leaders in Washington, DC to immediately fund the FBI.
(As the country hurtles towards a historic government shutdown, likely the longest ever by week’s end, cash reserves are not being replenished at the FBI – endangering the agency’s national security mission. Courtesy of WUSA9 and YouTube. Posted on Jan 9, 2019.)
The text of the petition follows:
“We, the undersigned, are proud FBI Special Agents.”
“Today, we write in our capacity as the volunteer leadership and chapter representatives of the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), a professional organization representing nearly all active duty Special Agents.”
“FBIAA members elected us, and we represent all 56 FBI field offices. We are the only dedicated voice for the nearly 13,000 active FBI Special Agents, the vast majority of whom are members of the FBIAA.”
“On Friday, January 11, 2019, FBI Agents will not be paid due to the partial government shutdown, but we will continue our work protecting our nation.”
(The FBI Agents Association is petitioning leaders in Washington to reopen the government, as lack of funding for the FBI is affecting agents and investigations. Courtesy of CBS News and YouTube. Posted on Jan 10, 2019.)
“We urge our elected representatives to fund the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the FBI because financial security is a matter of national security:
1. FBI Special Agents are subject to high security standards that include rigorous and routine financial background checks to ensure that Agents are financially stable and responsible. Missing payments on debts could create delays in securing or renewing security clearances, and could even disqualify Agents from continuing to serve in some cases.
2. The operations of the FBI require funding. As the shutdown continues, Special Agents remain at work for the American people without being paid, and FBI leadership is doing all it can to fund FBI operations with increasingly limited resources—this situation is not sustainable. The important work done by the Bureau needs to be funded immediately.
3. Pay uncertainty undermines the FBI’s ability to recruit and retain high-caliber professionals. Special Agents are skilled professionals who have a variety of employment options in the private sector. The ongoing financial insecurity caused by the failure to fund the FBI could lead some FBI Agents to consider career options that provide more stability for their families.
“The men and women of the FBI proudly serve this nation and are honored to protect our country and Constitution from all threats, foreign and domestic.”
“We are confident that our leaders share this commitment to protecting our country and will find a path forward to fund the DOJ and the FBI.”
“As those on the frontlines in the fight against criminals and terrorists, we urge expediency before financial insecurity compromises national security.”
Click here to see the full petition.
“There is no question, no question, that as this goes forward, the impact on the FBI is a national security issue,” said FBI Agents Association President Thomas O’Connor, who was an honored recipient of the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program.
“I’m going to have t-shirts made that say, ‘crime doesn’t pay, but neither does the federal government.’”
The petition will represent the voices of the nearly 13,000 active FBI special agents, who are likely to miss their paychecks when the partial government shutdown continues past Friday.
The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) is an organization dedicated to providing support and advocacy to active and former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
FBI in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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‘Excellence in Homeland Security’
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Violent Crimes against Children (VCAC) program
(FBI Special Agent Danielle Messineo, who works in the Crimes Against Children division, tries to prevent future victims by giving presentations to schoolchildren. Courtesy of the USA Network and YouTube.)
Thomas O’Connor
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‘Excellence in Homeland Security’
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President of the FBI Agents Association
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