What is the full form of FBI

FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation

FBI stands for Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was formed on 26th July 1908 as a government agency which belongs to the United States Department of Justice. Initially, it was established as a name of Bureau of Investigation in 1908, but later in 1935, it was changed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The director of the FBI is appointed by U.S. President, and the appointment is confirmed by the Senate. The current director of the FBI, as of August 2017, is Christopher� Wray.

Headquarter

FBI is headquartered in Washington D.C. in J. Edgar Hoover Building.

Usage

The main agenda of the FBI is to look after and maintain law and order in the United States by protecting the country from terrorist attacks, high-technology crime, and cyber crimes and protecting civil rights. It also provides investigative expertise, intelligence, and training to domestic and international agencies and partners.

Main functional branches

• FBI National Security Branch
• FBI Science and Technology Branch
• FBI Intelligence Branch
• FBI Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch
• FBI Human Resources Branch
• FBI Information and Technology Branch

How to Become an FBI Agent

The candidate must have American citizenship and a four-year degree and should be between the ages of 23 and 39. Furthermore, he should not have any kind of criminal record. Only around 10% of applicants are selected by the FBI. After the selection, the candidate undergoes rigorous training at the FBI academy in Quantico, Va. The Academy has a forensic and research lab, a garage, firing ranges, a driving track, a gymnasium, a library, etc. It also has a fake town named Hogan's Alley for training purposes.

History

The Bureau of Investigation (BOI), a division of the Department of Justice, was the precursor of the FBI. Its main goal was to look into federal law infractions, especially those committed by interstate gangs like the infamous John Dillinger gang.

The BOI's responsibilities grew during the 1920s and 1930s to include looking into other kinds of crimes, such as abduction and bank robberies. J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the BOI when it was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1935, rose to prominence as one of the most influential and divisive personalities in the history of American law enforcement.

The FBI gained a reputation for vigorously going after criminals and looking into political subversion under Hoover's direction. The CIA was essential in the Cold War investigation of alleged Communist operations in the U.S., particularly the case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were found guilty of leaking nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union.

The FBI came under more scrutiny and criticism in the 1960s and 1970s for its methods, which included the use of illegal wiretaps and monitoring against political activists and civil rights leaders. Congress approved the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 1978 in response to these critiques, setting rigorous rules for the use of electronic surveillance by intelligence services.

Structure

Currently, the FBI has field offices spread out across the nation and the world, with its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The director of the agency is chosen by the President and approved by the Senate.

The FBI is divided into a number of divisions, each of which is in charge of a particular aspect of the organization's operations. Among these divisions are:

• Division of Criminal Investigations (CID): Investigations into a variety of federal offenses, including organized crime, white-collar crime, and public corruption, fall within the purview of this section. The FBI's National Centre for the Analysis of Violent Crime, which aids local law enforcement agencies in resolving violent crimes, is likewise run by the CID.
• The Counterintelligence Division (CD): It is in charge of guarding the U.S. against foreign intelligence agencies and stopping the theft of confidential government data. For the purpose of identifying and eliminating threats to national security, the CD also collaborates closely with other intelligence organizations like the CIA and NSA.
• Cyber Division (CyD): This division is in charge of looking into internet fraud, identity theft, and other cybercrimes such as computer hacking. The CyD also tries to stop cyberattacks on vital infrastructure, such as the banking and electricity grids.
• The intelligence branch (I.B.): It is in charge of obtaining and evaluating information on risks to national security, such as terrorism and espionage. The I.B. collaborates with other government departments and agencies to exchange intelligence and address new threats.
• The Human Resources Division (HRD): It is in charge of hiring, educating, and advancing workers. It also manages the FBI's staff. The agency's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program is likewise managed by the HRD.

Functions

The FBI's main job is to look into and stop federal crimes, especially those that cross state boundaries or pose a threat to national security. The following are some of the agency's most significant investigations:

• Terrorist attacks on 11th September 2001: The FBI was instrumental in the investigation of the assaults and the capture of the terrorists after the deadly terrorist strikes. The organization began a thorough investigation known as Operation PENTTBOM, which finally resulted in the capture and conviction of multiple attackers.
• Boston Marathon bombing: Three people were killed, and nearly 260 others were wounded in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which was carried out by two brothers. The investigation, which involved a large manhunt for the culprits, was heavily influenced by the FBI.
• Enron scandal: The FBI looked into the major accounting fraud at Enron Corporation in the early 2000s, which ultimately caused the business to fail. As a consequence of the inquiry, numerous Enron executives, including CEO Jeffrey Skilling, were found guilty.
• Watergate scandal: In the 1970s, the FBI was crucial to the investigation into the Watergate incident, which entailed a break-in at the offices of the Democratic Party and the ensuing Nixon government cover-up. President Richard Nixon eventually resigned as a result of the probe.

Controversies

The FBI has faced a lot of controversy over the years while playing a crucial role in defending national security and combating crime. Among the most notable are:

• The FBI launched a covert operation named COINTELPRO in the 1950s and 1960s with the goal of dismantling and neutralizing political groups that were seen as a danger to the country's security. The program used unlawful wiretapping, monitoring, and other methods that infringed on numerous Americans' civil rights.
• Ruby Ridge: Randy Weaver and his family were engaged in a confrontation with FBI investigators in 1992 at their cabin near Ruby Ridge, Idaho. In the end, a federal agent, Weaver's wife, and a kid were all killed during the standoff. Widespread criticism was leveled at the FBI's handling of the situation due to its excessive use of force and lack of oversight.
• Waco siege: In 1993, the Branch Davidian facility in Waco, Texas, was raided by the FBI and other federal law enforcement organizations. More than 80 people, including women and kids, died as a result of the ensuing standoff. The FBI's handling of the case came under heavy fire for its combative strategies and refusal to seek a compromise.
• James Comey's firing: When President Trump fired James Comey as FBI Director in 2017, there were accusations that he was trying to sabotage the agency's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. The termination caused a significant uproar and prompted requests for an impartial inquiry.

Challenges

Several obstacles must be overcome for the FBI to accomplish its goals. Some of the biggest difficulties are as follows:

• Keeping civil freedoms and national security in balance: The FBI's counterterrorism and intelligence activities must strike a balance between the necessity to safeguard national security and the preservation of individual freedoms. To guarantee that its actions do not violate people's rights, the FBI must operate within the bounds of the law and abide by tight regulations.
• Keeping up with changing threats: The FBI needs to keep up with the latest dangers, such as terrorism and cybercrime. To remain abreast of more complex criminal organizations and terrorist organizations, the FBI must modify its procedures and technological infrastructure.
• Ensuring accountability and openness: To keep the public's trust, the FBI must maintain accountability and openness in all aspects of its activities. Congress has the authority to monitor the FBI, and it must abide by certain rules when conducting its business.
• Effective resource management is essential for the FBI to do its goal. The FBI has a $9 billion budget and more than 35,000 employees. Such a huge organization demands careful planning and resource management.

Conclusion

The FBI is one of the most significant law enforcement and intelligence organizations in the world, with a long and illustrious history. The organization has been at the center of countless disputes over the years while playing a crucial part in defending national security and combating crime. Despite these controversies, the FBI continues to be a crucial American institution dedicated to upholding the law and protecting the populace.