One of the publication’s interlocutors suggested that underfunding of the FBI’s activities jeopardizes US national security.
In particular, problems with the FBI's lack of money have led to the fact that the bureau has nothing to pay informants for their services, as well as conduct secret purchases of weapons and drugs.
In general, the investigations conducted by the FBI have either slowed down or stopped due to the shutdown, the media writes.
Former FBI agent Tom Simon, who before retiring in 2021 was involved in the fight against terrorism, investigating criminal cases and working with informants, described the situation in the FBI during the shutdown as “the FBI is losing its hearing and sight.” He noted that without funds to pay informants, the Bureau is losing its most important source of operational information.
Reuters writes that the FBI budget is $10.7 billion, but it is not entirely clear how much of this amount was delayed due to the shutdown.
When asked by the agency, the FBI admitted that their investigations had suffered due to the shutdown, and the bureau had to “redistribute already limited resources.”
Context
The shutdown in the United States is the first shutdown of the American government in almost seven years and the third under the presidency of Donald Trump. During his first term, the longest shutdown was recorded – more than 35 days, from December 2018 to January 2019.
On September 28, the Associated Press wrote that Trump plans to take advantage of the new shutdown for mass layoffs and restructuring of the state apparatus.
The main point of disagreement between party representatives is the Obamacare Affordable Health Care Act, CNN explained. Democrats are demanding an extension of expanded tax breaks for health insurance, while Republicans believe that this issue should be postponed until the end of the year. The Senate cannot get the necessary votes to exit the shutdown.
According to mTreasury Secretary Scott Bessentain conditions shutdown The US economy is losing up to $15 billion every day.
