The Case for Reform Today

Americans have lost faith in the Bureau, and for good reason. The FBI is broken. But with this loss of trust has come a rise in threats at home and abroad. Drug cartels and Mexican gangs have taken control of the border and have infiltrated cities across the country bringing violent crime and drugs with them. At the same time, China has grown more brazen, engaging in espionage that robs U.S. businesses of their intellectual property and undermines our national security. Terrorist groups are on the rise again in the Middle East, with unknown numbers having entered our country over the past four years lying in wait to attack the innocent. More than ever, our country is in desperate need of a highly capable, non-partisan, and legally compliant federal law enforcement agency it can trust. More than ever, America needs an FBI that is refocused on its mission, and back on track.

What Reform Looks Like

The reform of the FBI should be grounded in restoring the institution’s foundational mission—protecting the public, upholding the rule of law, and preserving national security. Meaningful reform involves addressing structural inefficiencies, rebalancing priorities, and reestablishing a culture of meritocracy and mission-first accountability:

Streamlining
Administration

The FBI has become increasingly top-heavy, with an overabundance of senior executives and support staff. Reform must focus on decentralizing authority, reducing redundant positions, and redistributing personnel to field offices where investigative work is urgently needed. By eliminating layers of unnecessary bureaucracy, the FBI can redirect resources to its operational mission. Establishing regionalized headquarters units across the country could further enhance decision-making agility and alignment with local community needs.

Prioritizing Investigative Integrity Over Metrics

Since 9/11, the Bureau has shifted toward a metric-driven culture, where quantity often outweighs quality. This has led to a decline in the complexity and depth of investigations. Focusing too much on procedures instead of the bigger goal can lead to prioritizing numbers over purpose. Reforming this approach would involve reassessing performance measures to prioritize impactful casework and meaningful results over arbitrary numerical goals. Reinvigorating partnerships with state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement and federal prosecutors is essential to restoring the Bureau’s investigative reputation, credibility, and public trust.

Empowering Field Operations

Decentralizing decision-making from FBI Headquarters back to field offices is vital to improving responsiveness and operational effectiveness. Field agents and supervisors—those with intimate knowledge of local conditions—should have greater autonomy in setting investigative priorities. Simultaneously, revitalizing the role of Special Agents in Charge (SACs) in managing their regions can restore trust and efficiency in field operations.

Reforming Training and Talent Development

Merit and proficiency should drive recruitment and training, ensuring the FBI attracts and retains the most qualified individuals. The current "up-and-out" policy, which forces seasoned supervisors out of their roles prematurely, must be reconsidered. Additionally, rigorous training standards at the FBI Academy should be reinstated and modernized to reflect pacing and emerging threats, and to ensure new recruits are well-prepared. The volume of temporary duty assignments to headquarters should be curtailed to prevent careerism and to maintain expertise in the field.

Strengthening Intelligence Functions

The focus on intelligence products over field support has diluted the Bureau’s effectiveness. Analysts should return to supporting casework rather than being tasked with producing a high volume of reports, accountable for voluminous requirements from the Directorate of Intelligence (DI), rather than substantive divisions. This includes reevaluating writing metrics to emphasize quality over quantity and ensuring analysts have relevant field experience to ground their insights in operational realities. The reallocation of analytical professionals within the organization should be considered in the spirit of reducing duplicative efforts within the intelligence community (IC), thus focusing on the core FBI mission.

Restoring Public Trust and Accountability

Reform efforts must address the perception of politicization and favoritism within the FBI. This includes eliminating careerism, ensuring decisions are made based on the mission rather than personal ambition, and taking a firm stance against any misuse of authority. Creating an independent advisory board composed of retired FBI personnel can collaborate with FBI leadership to provide guidance, transparency, and accountability to rebuild public confidence.

Fostering a Culture of Excellence

Finally, the FBI must focus on cultivating a mission-driven culture, free from distractions such as divisive ideologies or non-essential activities. A renewed emphasis on the Bureau’s core values—integrity, excellence, and service—can inspire agents to prioritize their duty to the American people above all else.