A union representing FBI agents is warning that the partial government shutdown has delayed criminal, counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence operations, and hampered investigations related to child trafficking.
In a report released Tuesday, the FBI Agents Association revealed the hardships agents face because of the shutdown that’s put 5,000 support personnel on furlough and left 13,000 active-duty agents working without a paycheck.
"It is truly sad that we must resort to this because we are being let down by our elected officials," Thomas O'Connor, the president of the FBI Agents Association, told reporters in Washington Tuesday, the Washington Examiner reported.
According to the report, agents report that:
- "FBI offices … are having investigations stalled, to include delayed forensic interviews of child victims and delaying grand jury indictments on homicides and child sexual assault prosecutions."
- “We have lost several sources who have worked for months, and years, to penetrate groups and target subjects."
- The central region is operating a long-term MS-13 investigation without a translator. "We have indicted 23 MS-13 gang members. … Since the shutdown, I have not had a Spanish speaker in the Division.”
- “Our mechanics are cannibalizing out of service vehicles in an effort to replace flat tires."
"The shutdown has eliminated any ability to operate," said one agent working in the western region, according to the report. "It's bad enough to work without pay, but we can only conduct administration functions while doing it. The fear is our enemies know they can run freely."
Axios reported the FBI agents’ union has sent a petition to the White House and congressional leaders urging them to come to an agreement to fund the FBI immediately, saying that not funding the agency is a threat to national security.